Reader Response Draft 3 (Final)

In the article “Writing Your Way to Happiness”, Parker-Pope (2015) states that writing one’s own experience can develop physical and mental health. The author believes that our world outlook and self-positioning depends on these personal statements. Stanford researchers once carried out a study on the college freshmen. Results showed that writing could encourage people and give them confidence towards their future. Parker-Pope also mentions that writing can help people to face the difficulties in their life truly. By taking the example of a woman named Siri in the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, she realised her real problems through writing. Thus, it is asserted in the article that writing indeed helps people recognize what hinders them and give them a chance to change themselves.

As Parker-Pope stated from the article, there are many benefits of expressive writing which show that it can lead to behavioural changes and improve happiness. 

She mentions that Stanford researchers once carried a study about asking a part of African-American students to keep dairy or video to be seen by future students. The results have showed that the African-American spletudents who cared about writing or video everyday achieved better grades. These have clearly shown how writing will help ones to improve in their behaviour and in turn also increase in their work’s performance.

It is also stated in the article that a woman named Siri initially wanted to improve her fitness, but as the primary breadwinner for her family she had to work long hours and already felt guilty about time spent away from her children. After prompting, she eventually wrote a new story, based on the same facts but with a more honest assessment of why she doesn’t exercise. The truth was that she did not like to exercise and also did not value her health enough. She used work and the kids as excuses to her lack of fitness. This have shown that one who does expressive writing, will reflect on themselves. They will also evaluate themselves honestly. As a result, they will seek for areas of improvement which will lead to behavioural changes and improve happiness. 

In another news article, “28 Years Of Psychology Shows That Expressive Writing Makes You Way Happier”, Baer, (2014) also states that avoiding unpleasant emotions or suppressing their thoughts will makes their body tense, their mood negative, and their cognition impaired. By writing down all unhappy thoughts and feelings, they are disclosing them. As a result, they will feel happier as they can access, express, and process those blocked-up emotions. This again supports how expressive writing will lead to behavioural changes and improve happiness. 

In conclusion, the examples given are just some of the benefits of expressive writing. Ones will reflect and evaluate themselves honestly after expressive writing. They will seek for areas of improvement which will lead to behavioural changes and improve their happiness eventually.  

   

References

Parker-Pope. T. (2015, Jan 19). Writing your way to happiness [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/19/writing-your-way-to-happiness/?_r=1&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Health&action=keypress&region=FixedLeft&pgtype=Blogs

Baer. D. (2014, May 24). 28 Years Of Psychology Shows That "Expressive Writing" Makes You Way Happier - Business Insider. Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://www.businessinsider.sg/the-positive-effects-of-journaling-and-expressive-writing-2014-5/#.VN2zUC6uro0