Some of the Best Advice I've Ever Received
It was seventh grade, and I had just been assigned my first BIG essay.
I had a vague idea of where I wanted to go with it, but when I sat down to write… I was frozen.
I didn’t know how to start.
I didn’t know what to say.
I definitely didn’t know how to spell half the words I wanted to use.
And more than anything, I didn’t know how to move past the paralysis I felt in my body.
Then, a family friend gave me one of the most powerful pieces of advice I’ve ever received:
Just start writing.
Write about not knowing what to write.
Write about how much you don’t want to write.
Write about your cat rubbing her face on the notebook while you’re trying to focus. 🐈
It doesn’t matter what you write. Just. Start.
And what happened next was kind of magic…
Somehow, slowly, and sneakily, the fog began to lift.
The words began to flow.
And ever since then, I’ve returned to that exact moment—again and again—not just in writing, but in life.
While this wisdom applies to many areas, today, I want to talk specifically about writing as a practice.
Because here’s the thing… when I mention writing or journaling to clients, I often get some pushback.
And trust me, I get it.
As someone who’s been journaling since the 2nd grade, even I still push back sometimes.
Why?
Because writing can feel really scary.
There’s the uncertainty of what to say, how to say it, how to spell it, or where to start.
But there’s also a deeper fear.
“If I write it down… then it becomes real.” 😱
I used to think that a lot.
And that fear would stop me cold.
But ironically, that exact fear is now the reason I value writing so much.
Because when something is real—when it’s swirling around in your subconscious or living in your nervous system—writing it down brings it into the light.
And once it’s in the light, you can work with it.
Writing is how we name the chaos.
It’s how we make sense of what’s happening inside us and around us.
It’s a form of self-connection.
A tool for nervous system regulation.
A way for your Adult Self to sit down with the overwhelmed Inner Child and say, “Hey, I’m listening. Let’s sort this out together.”
Some days I write and end up exactly where I thought I’d go.
But most days?
I start writing about one thing and finish somewhere entirely different—with more clarity, more insight, or at the very least, a little more breathing room around the confusion. 😵💫
It’s like one of those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books—you never quite know where you’ll end up, but the journey always reveals something important.
But here’s something you may not hear often enough:
Writing gets energy out.
And that’s a big deal.
We are energetic, emotional beings. We store memories, beliefs, fears, and feelings in our bodies.
And to process them, we have to MOVE them.
That’s why we feel better after venting to a friend.
Or after a long walk.
Or a massage.
Or crying during a sad movie.
Or dancing in the kitchen when no one’s watching.
All of that helps us metabolize what we’re holding.
Writing does that too.
It’s movement.
It’s release.
It’s integration.
A good writing session can be just as therapeutic as talk therapy, energy healing, or somatic work.
It shifts our mood.
It opens up perspective.
It reconnects us with parts of ourselves that have been feeling unheard.
And it’s accessible—anytime, anywhere.
Even a five-minute free write can make a difference.
You don’t need a fancy journal.
You don’t need poetic language.
You don’t even need a full idea.
You just need a starting point.
And sometimes the best starting point is honesty.
Write:
“I have nothing to say.”
“I feel numb.”
“I’m scared this will go nowhere.”
“I feel like my Inner Critic is watching my every move.”
Because even that is powerful.
It means you’re listening.
It means you’re tuning in.
It means you’re getting curious.
And when we write with that kind of intention, something happens:
We begin to see ourselves more clearly.
We build bridges between our thoughts and our emotions.
We strengthen the connection between our present self and the parts of us that are still holding pain, confusion, or unmet needs.
In many ways, writing becomes a relationship—between your conscious mind and your subconscious self.
It becomes a space where the Inner Child can express…
The Inner Critic can be heard and softened…
And the Adult Self can hold space with compassion, not judgment.
So… when was the last time you just wrote something for yourself?
Not for a deadline.
Not for a post.
Not for anyone else’s eyes.
Just for you.
Whether it’s a pen on paper, a blinking cursor in Google Docs, or even a quick Notes app ramble—I encourage you to open up a blank page today.
And take the advice that helped me unstick myself so many years ago:
JUST START WRITING.
Even if all you write is “I don’t know what to write.”
Even if all you write is “This is stupid.”
It’s not.
It’s a sacred beginning.
And no matter where you end up, you’ll be on the (w)right path. 💟
PS: Do you want to hear author & writing teacher Laura Davis talk more about writing as a tool for healing? Click here to listen to episode 30 of the Wholistic Approach to Healing Podcast.