Focus on “positive” when journaling–magic
People often ask, “Do I need to write about problems or trauma to receive the benefits of journaling?”
A recent study using Web based Positive Affective Journalling, an adaptation of the original expressive writing protocol, would suggest not.
Positive Affective Journalling was found to be effective in reducing some aspects of mental distress and improving aspects of well-being among medical patients experiencing anxiety.
People who write down their goals, are far more likely to achieve their goals.
This short research reflection points out that: people who write down their goals, are far more likely to achieve their goals.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/achieving_your_goals_an_evidence_based_approach
PhotoVoice group dialogue
PhotoVoice is a participatory action research method that employs photography and group dialogue as a means for marginalized individuals to deepen their understanding of community issues or concerns.
PhotoVoice believes that everybody should have the opportunity to represent themselves and tell their own story. They work in partnership all over the world on projects and activities that combine ethical photography and community participation to help deliver positive social change.
Your photography reflects your personal way of seeing the world
There is ample evidence that our photography reflects our personal way of seeing the world. As early as 1990, Robert Ziller in Photographing the self: methods of observing personal orientations summarized the use of photography in the study of the self. Since then photography and reflective writing have been used in combination in qualitative studies to explore human experience.
Assertive Training: A Forgotten Evidence-Based Treatment
Seriously interested in the role of assertiveness and mental health? This readable, academic article, “Assertiveness Training: A Forgotten Evidence-Based Treatment” in Clinical Psychology Science and Practice is an excellent overview of the research covering clinical problems, populations, and contexts.
Opening up by writing it down: How expressive writing improves health and eases emotional pain
Opening up by writing it down (Third Edition): How expressive writing improves health and eases emotional pain, by James Pennebaker and Joshua Smyth
These leading experts in the field of therapeutic writing, describe how taking just a few minutes to write about deeply felt personal experiences or problems may help you. They incorporate findings from hundreds of recent studies that document extensive new information on specific health benefits.
Developing and Executing Rituals
Developing and executing rituals is known to effect outcomes. One approach to rituals is to think of them as helping to establish habits. Another is to think of them as helping with a specific issue in your life. In both cases, writing out the ritual is helpful.
The Benefits of Writing Gratitude Letters
Writing Power: Kent State Professor Studies Benefits of Writing Gratitude Letters.
This study examined the effects of writing letters of gratitude on happiness, life satisfaction, and depression. The more letters that people wrote, the greater their happiness and life satisfaction, and the greater their decrease in symptoms of depression.
This expanded version of the study was published in the 2012 Journal of Happiness Studies 13(1):187-201.
Writing Your Way to Happiness
In this New York Times article, the author reports the effect of writing on happiness in several studies including struggling college and marital couples.
Writing Improves Mental Health Among Chronically Stressed Caregivers
Mackenzie, C., Wiprzycka, U,.Hasher, L., & Goldstein, D. (2008). Seeing the glass half full: optimistic expressive writing improves mental health among chronically stressed caregivers. British Journal of Health Psychology, 13 (Pt 1): 73-
This study of caregivers found that those benefited from writing used positive, optimistic, and future-focused language.