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The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UNH chapter.

Writing is Therapeutic.

Writing poetry is almost like journaling. You take your thoughts and feelings and put them onto paper (or a Google Doc like me). As you write more and more, you slowly discover pieces of yourself that you have kept hidden. Every word seems to unlock your subconscious as it intricately designs the page, revealing itself to you. This newfound knowledge is the same reward as one would obtain from journaling. You put in your feelings and receive realizations of your psyche. I highly recommend writing poetry because it has the same flow of relief that I get from journaling. I can feel the weight off my shoulders amid a crisis whenever I write about how I feel. The way the poetic words emanate from my brain to the paper is therapeutic and I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world. I can discover more about myself through writing, and thus, I am able to connect to my inner child.

Ask Yourself Questions and Prompts.

Sometimes I write even when I am not stressed. Crisis mode doesn’t have to be the only time your creative brain runs free. You can look at journaling prompts and write a poem surrounding that topic. By using these introspective prompts, you are not only connecting to your psyche but able to heal your inner child through any epiphanies that arrive during the writing session. Every word you write will help you discover more and more of yourself, and help you figure out what you need to work on to heal and become the best version of you. It is healing to write a poem on something traumatic or stressful that has happened in the past. Your sense of release and acceptance will increase upon writing about stressful events. This is important because acceptance of traumatic events is essential for healing because it focuses on positive coping methods, and thus, by releasing yourself from the guilt, pain or stress of these events you can try to move on.

My Prompts For You:

  • Do you feel connected to the people around you? If not, why?
  • Why did their words/actions hurt you? What about it subconsciously made you react?
  • What memories shaped you to be the person you are today?
  • Are you able to express how you feel and your needs to others?
  • What characteristics of yourself do you dislike? Why?
  • What would your childhood self think of you now? What makes you different from your childhood self?
  • Is there anything you want to change in the past? If so, why?

Writing During Hardship.

Every hardship that hits my life is always a lesson for me to learn from. I like to take these hardships and write about them as a means of acceptance, healing, moving on, discovering my inner child and learning from the experience. That may sound like a lot to deal with just from writing, and maybe you are suspicious of its gifts, but I can assure you that writing poetry is just that healing! When stressors enter my life, I take out Google Docs, and as soon as I can I write about what happened. By doing so, I am focusing my attention on how I feel, which helps me to accept my emotions. Additionally, I am releasing these emotions to return to a clear state of mind. Clarity of mind is essential for problem-solving and serenity, so it is very helpful to write poetry during dark times. Frequently, I find that writing poetry about stressors also helps me discover more about myself. I learn about my triggers, my feelings, my past and how my past has shaped me into who I am today. I learn how to overcome problems and how to work on moving on from them. My inner child would be proud to hear this, and I am positive that your inner child would be proud of you too if tested out the therapeutic aspects of poetry writing. 

Poetry is the Best!

There are many benefits to writing poetry, and these pros are essential to healing the inner child and discovering who you truly are. Whether it be acceptance, moving on, or epiphanies, writing poetry is soothing to the inner child and the key to unlocking one’s potential. As a fan of self-development and inner child work, I am 100 percent a fan of writing poetry. It’s as simple as a few words, if not more if you are so inclined. So, get out a pencil and paper or your laptop. It’s time to get started!

Keri studies psychology and writing at UNH. She is a published poet of four collections available online, and she also runs Meadow Mouse Zine. Besides poetry, she is invested in self-development, healing the inner child and thrifting. You can find Keri at @keri.27 on Instagram.