Here at Blueprint, a key focus of our work is around male and stoic cultures, providing groups and individuals with the tools they need to normalize openly discussing their feelings.
We define stoic cultures as areas that value the unwavering endurance of pain and hardship which are usually seen with first responders and military services. However, these traits have become overemphasized within these services resulting in poor emotional connection.
One of the ways we teach men and others affected by these influences is by asking them to write down what they are feeling. Journaling is a well-known form of psychotherapy that allows you to put your emotions, thoughts, and experiences onto a safe medium without judgement.
““There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” – Ernest Hemingway
Our programs at Blueprint incorporate journaling as a form of storytelling to help men document their journey toward integrity. When we place a high value on going inward to find out who we are, we can begin to show up in healthier ways, not only for ourselves but our families and communities.
This process can help address suppressed emotions and improve our mental and physical health.
We often default to silence because we have learned it is safer to keep our emotions and feelings to ourselves, especially in protective services. Research shows that over time this effort of ‘bottling things up’ can contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and despair.
Studies have found that writing about traumatic events can improve immune function, decrease blood pressure, and decrease other medical conditions, including asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. It has also been linked to improved sleep quality.
Apart from the physical and mental benefits, we also resolve important issues that are holding us back from showing up better in our communities when we begin to recognize our internal landscape through self-reflection and dialogue. Journaling is one of the many empowering tools we can use to better understand ourselves.