How can we take responsibility for the pain in our lives and not pass that pain on?
Our words have the potential to release us from the perpetual pain of traumatic experiences.
In the second part of my conversation with Dr. James Pennebaker, we discuss healthy ways individuals can process traumatic experiences and the power of expressive writing.
Dr. Pennebaker is a social psychologist and currently holds the position of the Regents Centennial Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin.
His work highlights the effects of natural language on the mental and physical health of people. In this conversation, we discuss his work Open Up by Writing it Down and the practical advice he offers to people processing pain.
Find more conversations like this one at lucasskrobot.com or contact me through WhatsApp at +12029220220. Go out and own the future.
Key takeaways:
- Creating distance immediately following a traumatic experience is helpful—do not neglect this part of the process.
- People who do not voice their emotions through spoken or written words often experience physical sickness at a higher rate.
- Writing about your experience adds structure and objectivity to your thoughts.
- If you change your behaviors and thoughts, your language will follow. Language is a reflection of what is happening inside of you.
References:
The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us
Anchored: The Discipline to Stop Drifting
What to listen for:
1:21 Distraction can be a healthy coping process immediately following trauma.
9:10 In the right timing, writing acts as a healing exercise to process trauma.
12:59 Can writing make a difference about something that happened several years ago?
14:51 Unprocessed pain can result in physical ailments, so what are some strategies to process these experiences?
18:10 People are their own best therapists. There is no right way to process pain.
20:38 Should a person work to change their language or behaviors first?
25:51 Debrief: taking responsibility for your emotions
33:00 Challenges to implement into your life this week
Quotes:
“By putting it on paper people will change their behaviors because they are looking at it from a more objective perspective.” [12:50]
“You’re responsible for the problems you’ve got—responsible in the sense that you’re the one that is dealing with them. Sit down and see what works.” [19:40]
Thank you for being a dedicated listener. Without you–we would not be here.
I would love to hear from you–WhatsApp me at +1-202-922-0220 Here you can ask question about anything that happened on the show. I look forward to hearing from you.
Until next time…
Be a change maker, take responsibility, own the future.
Thank you for listening, and as always you can find me at:
