Write Your Way to Healing This Pride Month
My Good Brain stands with the LGBTQ+ Community. Self-acceptance is Mental Health. Pride is Mental Health, and it is crucial to express that pride and self-acceptance.
The role of mental health is important in self-acceptance. While there are many ways to tend to your mental health, one creative example is through writing.
To write is to create. The act of writing for mental health is a great example of My Good Brain’s focus on coping skill learning through the medium of art-based activities and play.
We invite you to take a moment of reflection, and to consider writing your way into exploring self-expression and healing. Take a piece of paper and a pen and begin!
An Excerpt from Mental Health Action Day: A Letters of Self Care Event
At the end of May this year, My Good Brain held a Mental Health Action Day event in Golden Gate Park. During this day, attendees were tasked with writing anonymous Letters of Self Care, with encouragements and hopeful messages. Each person was then asked to either give the anonymous letter to another in the group, or to another visitor of the park. It was a wonderful activity filled with reflection and calm.
Below is an example Letter from the event:
Dear Whomever is reading this…
I wish you happiness, joy, growth, prosperity and love in this big world. I hope that you take time each day to breathe in fresh air, reflect on your day and give yourself moments for you! Remember, you are important and never let that be different. Be where your feet are, be in the present and give yourself the gift of living life to the fullest what that may be for you! - Anonymous
If you find yourself with your thoughts in a rut, writing something is a great opportunity to check-in with yourself. It is a wonderful opportunity to bring those thoughts and feelings out onto the surface and to reflect on next steps forward.
A Few Prompts to Try Out:
What is your pride for?
What is your wellness for?
What is your morning and/or night routine? What areas of your life do you want to nurture?
Write a Letter or Postcard:
To Your Past Self: How is life different between then and now? What advice would you give your past self?
To Your Future Self: What are your goals? How does your Future Self accomplish their goals?
To Your Current Self: Write a love letter to yourself in this current moment.
To Somebody struggling with Self-Acceptance: What can they do to practice self care? What advice would you give them?
To Someone you know or to a Stranger: Tell them you are proud of them, and why.
Review 20 more journal prompts for self-care, finding joy, and healing this Pride month:
Image of 20 Journal Prompts for self-care, finding joy, and healing this Pride Month, courtesy of My Good Brain’s page for LGBTQ+ resources.
Check out 30 LGBTQIA+ Journal Prompts from the New Leaf Team.
“While seeking out therapy with an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist can be immensely helpful, what can you do yourself to flourish? In what ways can you explore who you are, and write your story, in a way that feels good to you? One way would be to journal! Journaling is an effective tool for reflection, gaining insight, and reflecting.”
A Few Writing Tips:
Sit in a calming environment: A park? A library? A museum? Maybe a cafe? This look different for everybody!
Be present.
Decide if you wish to keep your thoughts private or if you wish to share this one day.
Experiment with incorporating other media into a journal, such as: a concert/event ticket stub, a newspaper clipping, a flyer, a sticker, or a pressed flower.
Use colorful stationary or other art materials to help you visualize your thoughts.
Use other forms of paper for writing if you do not have a journal. A piece of paper is often all you need. Other creative options for journaling are:
Postcards
Sticky notes: You can place these in areas such as your mirror or closet door.
Any notebook, with or without a design.
A Laptop or phone with a notes or journal application.
A Few Writing Templates:
Dear Reader, I will practice these 3 things:
__________
__________
__________
These are the steps I will take to protect my space:
__________
__________
__________
This is what I will do for:
My emotional wellness: __________
My physical wellness: __________
My community wellness: __________
Take out a pen and paper, and start writing today!
Check out our growing list of educational and support resources for LGBTQ+ Pride:
Upcoming My Good Brain Events:
July 12th: Tabling at Town of Colma Community Fair
July 18th: MGB Toddler Little Sound Minds Music x Wellness Workshop (San Diego)
July 20th: Sunday Art Club on Youtube
August 2nd and 3rd: Booth at Artwalk San Diego Liberty Station
August 23rd: Arts and Crafts Zone at Relay For Life Event! (San Diego)
