Bearing to Being: Beyond Body Positivity to Body Neutrality

Writing letters to your younger self is an activity where your reflection of the past occurs. You put your thoughts and feelings into the letter. We all have undergone both positive and negative situations in life. Oftentimes we feel nostalgic, wishing to return to the past. Or it might be on the opposite end ruminating over an embarrassing moment.

While we can't physically go back to the past, we can still visit it with the letter writing exercise. This is as our past is a looping pathway to the present. This letter acts as a bridge to convey words your younger self would have loved to hear, from the present you.

Writing letters to past self develops a healthy mindset through multiple ways-

1. Reflection:

• Expressive writing acts as a mirror to reflect on our past.
• It encourages the assessment of growth and progress from past to present.
• It also provides a platform to understand ourselves better- to see our strengths and weaknesses.

2. Closure:

• Through the principles of narrative therapy, this exercise also aids in closure of emotional wounds, by processing complex emotions.
• Reflecting on a difficult time that feels unresolved, leads to insights, forgiveness and ultimately healing.

3. Self-regulation:

• Writing letters to our past self can also develop positive feelings of nostalgia, and self-appreciation.
• The method of self compassion can make this activity a support system for self regulation.

To write a letter for your younger self, you can get as creative as you want to. Just grab some stationery, a paper and a pen is as basic as it gets.

• Step 1: Sit for a while, think about what your past feels like.
• Step 2: Note down in key points what would you like to focus on.
  • Is it a particular moment of your life? A special day? A particularly tough time period?
  • Or is it something more specific- such as a trait of yours?
• Step 3: Once you have decided, take some time to reflect about it.
  • How does it make you feel? What are your thoughts about it? Keep a note of it.
• Step 4: Now that you have more clarity about your thoughts and emotions, you can begin writing the letter.
  • What would you like to tell your younger self about it?
  • Being understanding and accepting of your past self' state is primary. It's good to appreciate yourself.
  • You can try charting out your progress, a reflection of how far you have come.
  • Or you can perhaps provide some advice or support you much needed at that time.
• Step 5: Contrasting your present and past, you can end it with a note of hope for the future.
  • Set positive self affirmations- to always support yourself.

Here is a letter I have written to my younger self which certainly made me feel quite happy and content. And I hope this brings about inspiration to have a good discussion with your inner child as well.

Click on this link to receive a set of prompts: Writing Prompts for Letters.pdf

Dear readers, it is now your time to write a letter to your past self. Tap into that creativity and pick up colors and stickers to make your letter more engaging.

You can even add some doodles, to have a visual representation of your thoughts. Explore with various mediums- paper and digital, whatever feels more safe and comfortable to you. The letter writing activity will not only help you to understand your past, and appreciate the present but also serves as a reminder of your strength for your future.