Memoir Writing as Therapeutic Practice by Nicole Plumridge
Let’s welcome back Nicole Plumridge as she shares with us “Memoir Writing as Therapeutic Practice.” Enjoy!
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Taking a trip down memory lane may not be the nostalgic journey many imagine it to be.
Memory lane may be a distorted, fractured place, laden with quiet skeletons ready to be resurrected at the slightest invitation.
However, anyone on the healing journey knows that this is precisely the soul arena that needs to be excavated — revealed to be healed as many within the wellness community advocate.
While there are many modalities to go about this — therapy, meditation, reiki, nature walks — what more resonant way for the writer than to write into the experience?
Memoir as Healing Modality
Memoir writing is not simply the act of reconstructing the past and logging memories in chronological order.
Memoir is a form of creative nonfiction where the page offers a safe space to unpick the narrative threads weaving life events together.
It is the act of remembering and re-interpreting the past as well as one’s relationship to it.
Through noticing triggers, patterns and experiences one is able to separate the events from the emotions involved, gaining a sense of detachment which makes processing the past easier.
Many writers find that moving from the experiencer to the witness allows them to see their past from a different perspective.
The role of the observer offers the possibility of witnessing the carousel of life without the emotional charge certain memories may carry with them.
Expressive Writing: An Emotional Container
James Pennebaker, an American social psychologist, developed a technique called Expressive Writing.
This protocol involves having individuals choose an emotionally laden memory and subsequently write about it for 15-20 minutes every day.
Research suggested that participants who engaged in the exercise regularly reported reduced stress and anxiety as well as improvements in markers associated with physical wellbeing.
While past events remained unchanged, one of the key contributing factors to the transformation was that the individuals were able to organize their experiences into a coherent framework.
Instead of fragmented thoughts, emotions and experiences floating chaotically within, the act of writing solidified the memories into a container, making it more manageable to process.
Historically, humanity has leaned on storytelling as a means to make sense of the world.
The container of a story offers both a sense of clarity over the past and a roadmap for the future.
While this is true on a collective level, it is also true on an individual level.
Through exploring our personal memories, inherited stories and belief systems we not only record the past but have the potential to rewrite the future.
When the Witness is Witnessed
Publishing your personal memoir can bring an additional layer of healing to the experience.
You are no longer operating in typical writerly isolation but being seen in your vulnerability.
Sharing can be among a close-knit few or it can be a more expansive endeavour, depending on what the story is ready for.
While the journey you have walked is uniquely yours, it can provide a framework for someone navigating similar experiences, searching for a guiding light.
Your story can be that lighthouse, offering hope to someone searching for a way forward amidst the choppy waters of life.
Keeping It Between You and the Page
While memoir writing can be shared, connecting you to others who have been through similar experiences and allowing you to create a sense of shared meaning, it can also remain a solitary healing process.
One of the beautiful things about writing memoir to heal the self is that there are no fancy bells and whistles necessary — no expensive computer programs or even past writing experience are required to engage with this healing modality.
Memoir writing is accessible to anyone with the ability and willingness to remember, notice and peel back the mythic layers of personal memory — discovering the lessons, insights and epiphanies nestled within.
Authoring Our Story: An Act of Empowerment
While we cannot rewrite the past, we do have agency over our future.
Sifting through memories, confronting the challenges while recognizing the wins remind us of our resilience and strength.
The page reveals the chapters of our lives which we have successfully navigated as well as the bookmarked ones, patiently waiting for us to return with fresh eyes and a heavy dose of compassion.
Careful reflection and reframing provide us with the tools to write the future, gently leaving behind the narratives which no longer serve, adding footnotes for further examination and ending chapters only to begin new ones.
Authoring our story not only helps us understand who we are, but how we came to be.
It gives us the potential to switch plotlines when we need to, introduce new characters and narrate new experiences so that we can decorate our narrative with the epic illustrations they deserve.
An Evolving Story
Memoir shows us that memories are not moments trapped in capsules of time relegated to a distant past.
Instead, through writing, it reveals that the past is a living entity, capable of puppeteering the narrative strings if we allow it.
Past, present and future converge on the page until a narrative which can only be yours finally emerges.
When this happens, each page flipped in the narrative of your story is no longer turned into trepidation and fear.
Instead, a longing fills that space — an excitement fuels the words as they tumble across the page, writing themselves in a scribbled, enthusiastic mess.
Instead of slamming your book of life shut at the end of the day, desperate for the escape sleep offers, you may find the quiet urge to explore just one more chapter before lights out.
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About The Author
Nicole Plumridge is a three-time published author whose debut novel became an Amazon bestseller.
Her work has appeared in The Poetryhood and Half-Light Magazine.
She is also a creativity and book coach who supports creatives in building creative practices and reconnecting with their inner magic.
Connect with Nicole and book a discovery call if your creativity is calling you.
Website: https://nicoleplumridgecoaching.com
