In this grief note we will look at the topic of writing  out some of our grief experiences as our grief work proceeds.  Many grief authors refer to this as keeping a grief journal.  Some people believe that they cannot write with any degree of ease, especially while they are grieving.  This sounds like a difficult undertaking, butit is a very profitable one that is also personally rewarding.

Some are convinced that writing requires too much time and energy. While one is grieving much emotional energy is needed to grieve, heal, and progress through the grief process.  Therefore, the idea of writing about one’s personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences is unappealing and considered too hard to undertake.

To begin the writing process one simply needs a writing instrument (pen or pencil) and a writing tablet.  A fancy book for journaling is not a must.  Setting aside time to jot down the thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences one is having is also necessary.  There is no mandate that one make entries on a daily basis, although this may be helpful. Simply putting on paper experiences or concerns as they occur can be beneficial.  One chooses the time to do this – the morning hours or in the evening.  Whenever serves one’s needs.

Thoughts, concerns, or worries  that are not given attention swirl about in the mind, picking up momentum along the way.  They easily emerge at night, thus robbing one of a peaceful rest, so needed by the weary body and the grief-stricken spirit. So, notations made on an “as needed” basis or even daily can prevent disruptive sleep from happening and can ease the mind.

As already mentioned, there are benefits to  writing while grieving.  These are a few of them:

• one’s mind can become freed of sad, troubling issues
• it provides one with an indication of how well one’s passage through the grieving process is proceeding
• writing is a perfect means of expression, especially if one’s support system is meager or absent
• writing provides the opportunity to explore personal or private matters that one is not  ready to share with others
• one receives a measure of one’s progress (or lack of) that has occurred since the time of one’s loss
• a clarification of troubling issues that need resolution can  occur, warranting an exploration of a troubled relationship, the need for forgiveness, and other “unfinished business”

With all of these benefits in mind, it would seem wise to give writing or journaling a try.  It is a valuable tool for many grieving persons.  The two essential requirements are allotting the time and expending the needed energy to accomplish the undertaking.