The Power of Writing Things Down

The simple act of writing—pen to paper, fingers to keyboard—holds a profound and transformative power.

It’s not just a way to record your thoughts. Writing sharpens your focus, clarifies your goals, and helps you make sense of the world around you.

As we approach 2025, now is the perfect time to reflect, plan, and start a writing/journaling practice that could unlock your next level of growth. Today, I want to show why the most successful people use this tool and give you a roadmap to get started yourself.

Let’s begin.

The Science of Writing: Why It Works

Writing doesn’t just organize your thoughts; it rewires your brain. Studies show that the physical act of writing activates deeper cognitive processes. It turns abstract ideas into concrete steps and fleeting emotions into lasting insights.

Here’s how writing changes us:

• Processes Information Differently: Your brain works harder, improving focus and comprehension.

• Transforms Emotions into Clarity: Writing helps you regulate emotions and unpack complex feelings.

• Turns Past into Wisdom: Reflecting on experiences unlocks lessons hidden in plain sight.

• Makes Future Visions Tangible: Your goals feel closer and more achievable when written down.

Think of writing as a compass for your mind—it gives you concrete direction and focus in an often chaotic world. As Anne Frank wisely said: “Paper is more patient than people.” And we need the patience of paper to think, plan, and focus.

How High Performers Use Focused Writing

Focused writing or journaling is thinking made visible. High performers use it to untangle their thoughts, test ideas, and stay on track.

This isn’t about keeping a diary. It’s about building a system for clarity and action.

Here’s how some of the world’s best leverage journaling:

• Reflect Honestly: Evaluate decisions and learn from experiences.

• Plan Strategically: Break big goals into actionable steps.

• Process the Unsolvable: Write “unsent letters” to clarify conflicts or emotional situations.

• Visualize the Future: Use words, sketches, or diagrams to map out goals.

When you write, you’re creating a blueprint for your next move.

My Personal Breakthroughs

I’m consistently baffled at the power of writing things down in my own life.

In the past, I’ve written down a strategic plan for a business. I’ll set it aside and forgot about it for a year, and come back and realized everything I wrote had happened. The same is true for my life plans and goals. Writing them down made them become real. It gave my subconscious a map to follow, even when I wasn’t actively thinking about them.

Even these newsletters highlight the power of writing. Writing these forces me to refine my ideas and clarifying lessons I’ve learned so I can share them with you.

Your Starter Power Writing Framework

Here’s a simple framework I use with my clients to reflect and plan every 30-90 days. I have them write down answers to the following:

1. Where Am I Now?

   • Current priorities, health, challenges, and decisions.

2. Recent Wins Analysis:

   • What’s working? What progress have you made?

3. Next Period Targets:

   • Three key goals and how you’ll measure success.

4. One-Year Vision:

   • Specific goals with clear deadlines.

5. Three-Year Identity Evolution:

   • Who do you want to become? What impact do you want to leave?

Other Transformative Writing Exercises

Here are a couple of other focus writing exercises that can support personal and professional growth:

1. The Phoenix Rising: Write about your ten worst moments and how you overcame them. You’ll discover the strengths you’ve built through adversity.

2. The Story Flip: Rewrite a “failure” as a success—or a success as a lesson. Challenge your perspective.

3. The Energy Audit: Map your time and energy. Highlight tasks that drain you versus those that energize you. Adjust accordingly.

Start Today

Here’s how to begin:

1. Grab a Notebook: It doesn’t have to be fancy.

2. Choose One Prompt: Start small. Write your thoughts to just one question.

3. Stay Consistent: Set aside five minutes daily.

4. Reflect Weekly: Look for patterns in your entries.

As we step into the New Year, there’s no better time to reflect and set your course. Writing down your thoughts and goals is the simplest way to transform your life.

My challenge to you: Commit to 21 days of focused writing and journaling. Use any of the prompts or exercises shared above. Notice what shifts in your clarity, decision-making, and overall sense of purpose. And then please share your experience with me—I read every reply personally.

To your continued growth,
Eric

P.S. Ready to take your journaling practice deeper? Visit www.ericmathews.com for additional resources and personalized coaching opportunities.