A lot of people believe that writing is simply writing – it helps you get your thoughts down on paper so that you can process them better. While this may be true, there is so much more to it than just putting words on a page!
Anyone who has ever tried to learn something new, whether it’s a language, a musical instrument, or even a new task (like driving or cooking) knows how challenging it can be.
And what makes it even more challenging is when you’re not used to thinking about the matter independently. For instance, when you’re asked to write about something that has previously weighed on your mind, it can be extremely difficult to put into words your opinions and reactions to something you’ve never experienced before. This is where the power of writing comes in – by forcing you to step back and consider the situation in a blank mind, you can learn a lot about it and process it better when you come back to it later.
In this article, we will discuss some of the amazing things that writing can do for your personal growth and development. We will cover everything from helping you deal with difficult situations to giving you the confidence to explore new things and be more comfortable with who you are and what you want in life. So, let’s dive in.
Challenging But Also Useful
When you’re first asked to write about a topic you’ve never truly given much thought to, you might find it challenging to make your thoughts coherent enough for the reader. After all, you haven’t worked through the issues or questions on your own yet. But, once you get into the habit of writing, you will find that it’s not as difficult as you thought it would be. It can be helpful to go back and read your earlier writings, whether it’s been a couple of days or a couple of weeks since you’ve last done so. This way, you can pull out any unfamiliar words or concepts and make sure you understand them correctly. And if you find you’re still not sure, it’s perfectly acceptable to look them up in a dictionary or ask a teacher or classmate for help.
Helps You Process Your Thoughts
Believe it or not, writing can actually help you process your thoughts. If you’re trying to figure out what to write about, simply choose a topic that you’ve been thinking about recently. And before you know it, you’ll be sitting at your desk, mind flooded with ideas and ready to write your heart out. Even if you don’t plan on publishing your work – whether it’s a novel or a collection of short stories – putting your thoughts on paper can still help you figure out how you feel about something and can help you understand the reasons underlying your actions.
Allows You To Explore New Ideas And Feel More Confident
When you’re first exploring a new idea or concept, it can naturally be difficult to find the right words to express your thoughts. And, as we’ve established, this can be challenging for even advanced writers. However, once you get started, you will begin to discover that writing about something gives you a different perspective on it. And what’s more, when you explore a topic you’ve written about before, you can usually recall new ideas and words that you’ve grown or acquired since your last write-up. In these cases, writing can help you find the right words you’ve never known!
When you’re first exploring a new topic, it can be difficult to know exactly what words to use. But, after you get started, you will begin to find that writing about something helps you discover the right vocabulary to use. And not only that, but it can also provide you with new words and phrases that you’ve never heard of before. It’s like having a thesaurus right in your pocket!
Creates Stronger Connections
One of the most amazing things about writing is that it allows you to explore ideas and concepts on a deeper level than simply hearing the words or reading the explanations. When you’re reading a book, you’re usually only focusing on a couple of sentences here and there. But with writing, you can allow the words to flow naturally and develop a strong connection with the reader. This can be a powerful learning tool when used correctly, especially when connecting with a teacher or lecturer. The key is in the details – when you put in the time to develop your arguments and explanations skillfully, you’re proving that you’ve truly thought about the matter and are capable of formulating your thoughts in an articulate manner. Your instructor may be able to tell how much effort you’ve put in by how well you’ve written your assignments. This will allow you to grow as a student and not just as a passive listener.
Teaches You To Be More Objective
One of the primary reasons why some students find it challenging to learn new things is that their previous knowledge and experience tends to cloud their judgment. While it’s important to remember what you know and believe in, it’s also essential to step back and consider the issue objectively. When you write, you are essentially forced to do this – when you’re asked to write about a specific topic, your first reaction might be to think about how you feel about it or what you want to say. But, as a writing exercise, this is not what you should be doing. Instead, your task is to consider the topic thoroughly and then provide your opinion on it. When you do this, you are automatically distancing yourself from the topic and creating a more objective view of it. So, while it might still be challenging to learn something new, writing helps you clarify your thinking and provides you with a more reliable guide to follow in the future.
Larger Vocabulary
One of the nice things about writing is that it affords you the opportunity to grow your vocabulary. When you’re reading a book, for the most part, you’ll only be encountering a handful of new words on a regular basis. But, once you get started, you’ll find yourself writing about different topics and wanting to use new words to describe your surroundings or what you’re seeing and feeling. And, as you continue to write, you will find that your vocabulary grows alongside your knowledge of the English language.
When you’re first learning a new language, it can be difficult to know how to express yourself in written form. However, once you get started, you will discover that writing gives you the vocabulary you need to express yourself in a manner similar to how you speak. Of course, there will be different tenses and forms that you must learn, but the basic principles are the same. So, while it might be challenging to learn how to write in a foreign language, once you get started, it becomes easier and easier. And the joy of discovering new words will make it all worth it!
More Engaging
Another important aspect of good writing is that it forces you to engage with the reader. When you’re engaged with a reader, you’re usually following a narrative line of some sort. You’re either presenting the events of a story as they take place in chronological order or telling a tale in such a way that allows the reader to follow along and live the experience vicariously through the protagonist. In the first case, you would want to keep the narrative line consistent throughout – if you start out slow, you can develop an intimate connection with the reader and keep them engaged. In the latter case, you want to vary your language and use different tones so that the reader is constantly aware of the story that you’re telling and not just the characters or setting.
While both of these methods can be used to good effect, writing allows you to experiment and find a way to keep the reader interested without getting too familiar with the story. By regularly applying this exercise, you give yourself the opportunity to constantly improve your writing as well as engage with the reader – what’s not to love?!
For those interested in personal growth and development, writing is a fantastic tool to help you figure out who you are and what you want in life. Whether you’re exploring a new topic or working on an existing one, getting started is easy enough and you’ll find that the benefits are endless!