By Fungayi Sox
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States of America is undoubtedly one of the top 10 best presidents America ever had. Interestingly, one might be shocked to learn that during his reign in White House, Lincoln at many times showed moments of anger and temper. A few questions immediately come to mind,
How did Lincoln deal with such temper and anger whose source could have been accelerated by the demands of his highest office?
Did such temper ever get out control?
The answer to these questions is that the ink and paper always “intervened” and took charge by calming down Lincoln’s hot temperatures and Lincoln’s temper never spiralled out of control.
Lincoln’s hot letters
Whenever Lincoln felt the urge to tell someone off, he would compose what he termed a “hot letter”. In this letter he would pile off his anger into a note,” put it aside until his emotions cooled down” and he would then label it as “Never Sent, Never Signed”.
The New York Times analytically point out that Lincoln’s letters had a double pronged purpose and served as some sort of emotional catharsis, that being a way to let it all out without the repercussions of the true engagements he had.
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Benefits of journaling
Has it ever crossed your mind why psychologists, social workers and personal development trainers would give you a notebook or piece of paper to write on during the course of counselling or training sessions? The answer to that is that writing and journaling is indeed therapeutic.
Writing and journaling is therapeutic
Writing and Journaling is indeed a powerful form of therapy which enables one to work through their own thoughts and emotions and regulate their own feelings. Therapeutic Journaling can be done through keeping a regular journal to write about events that bring up Therapeutic or joy that occurs in daily life.
Turning lemons into lemonade
Former Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development minister Olivia Muchena seemed to have authored her book, Next Generation African Political Leaders: The Power of Preparation following her ouster from the government and the ruling Zanu PF between 2017 and 2018 and her book to me could be regarded as a form of therapeutic writing in which she lets out all her feelings and thoughts.
During the weekly show In Conversation with Trevor, Alpha Media Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube interestingly pointed out one aspect of Muchena’s book, which immediately resonated with me when I first reviewed it on this column a few weeks ago, and that being she allowed herself to be vulnerable by authentically expressing her pain of having been accused of plotting to oust the late former president Robert Mugabe from power, allegations which she said later on proved to be false. In the book The Next Generation of African Political Leaders, Muchena successfully strikes a balance of the good, bad and the key takeaway lessons based on her 20 years’ experience of serving in government and how she proffers lessons and advice to those intending to get into politics and that for me is the turning point she turns lemon into lemonade.
Therapeutic writing and journaling tips
Cognisant of the fact that a lot of people are experiencing depression and mental health related issues of some sort, I recommend journaling or therapeutic writing as a useful technique for dealing with tough, troubling and emotionally draining situation.
Thus, one can start for instance with writing about an emotionally upsetting or troubling event or situation and allow the branching out of thoughts from that process.
My number one rule in therapeutic writing is authenticity and allowing a free flow of thoughts and penning down all those emotions just like how Abraham Lincoln did it with the “Hot Letters” which were never signed nor delivered.
- Fungayi Sox is the managing consultant at TisuMazwi — a communications consultancy firm that facilitates book project management including writing and publishing, content development and marketing, research, digital media and personal development. He writes in his personal capacity. For one-on-one writing and self-publishing coaching sessions, contact him on 0776 030 949, follow him on Twitter @AntonySox or connect with him on LinkedIn on Fungayi Antony Sox.
