The Incredible Benefits of Writing a Letter to Yourself

Did you know there are some truly incredible benefits of writing a letter to yourself? About a week ago, I was having an extremely hard time eating healthy foods and was giving in to bingeing. I didn’t want to feel my feelings.

I sat down in my living room recliner and decided that I would journal. I didn’t want to, and I surely didn’t have to.

Something was telling me to do it.

I wrote sloppily in big scrawling letters about how I was annoyed, irritable, depressed, anxious, you name it.

Before I knew it, I had written 3 pages. I don’t remember writing it all, I just know how I felt after I got it all out- relief!

There had been so much turmoil swirling around in my head for days, with nowhere to go. I was not dealing with my emotions the right way.

It was a recipe for disaster and was all bound to come out one way or another.

Isolation

I’d like to share a little bit of my journal entry from that day with you. Why would I want to share something so personal?

Because sharing how I felt could help you see that you’re not the only one feeling so many uncomfortable feelings.

There are so many people out there thinking and feeling the same way about food as I do. Are you one of them?

Depression, anxiety, eating disorders- they are all isolating disorders of the mind. Wanting to be left alone, yet at the same time wanting someone to comfort you is completely normal. I feel that way a lot of the time.

I want someone to wrap me in their arms and tell me that everything is going to be ok. I want to hear that I won’t feel like this forever.

I want what I want when I want it.

Sound familiar?

My journal entry

The Incredible Benefits of Writing a Letter to Yourself

August 10, 2019

I’m tired of food and always having to think about it and be careful about what I put in my body. My body and mind suck. I’m so sick of my mental health problems. I’ve had enough. My depression is creeping back in, it seems. I’m irritable and angry a lot of the time. I don’t want to weigh myself because if the scale doesn’t say what I want, it’ll destroy me even more. I want sugar and junk food even though I know I won’t enjoy it. I’m not even hungry. I want to be NORMAL! I’m so sick of fighting my issues. I’m running out of strength and I don’t know where to find extra.

No plan and no gratitudes today. Life is bleak and I have little hope.

When I finished writing, I sat back and prayed for my depression and food obsession to be taken away.

I obviously wasn’t making myself feel better on my own, so what’s the harm in praying to someone who loves me unconditionally?

“I need help!” I said, exasperatedly.

What happened next wasn’t just a coincidence…

Tears welling up in my eyes, I firmly shut my journal- but not before a folded piece of paper fell out and drifted lightly to the floor.

I saw my handwriting and the words “letter to me” scrawled across the outside of the folded paper.

“Letter to Me”

February 9, 2017

Dear Me,

I’m writing to ask forgiveness for all the harm and emotional torment I’ve put you through.

Whenever you think harmful thoughts about yourself, like what you think others are thinking of you, you’re only hurting yourself. Remember to LOVE yourself- only think of self-love and positive thoughts.

You are good enough. You are smart enough. You don’t need to be anyone but you. Love yourself because there’s only one you in the world. Forgive yourself for eating to hurt yourself, eating to block out hurt, pain, depression, and anxiety.

You ate because you were depressed about your weight, and you were depressed about your weight because you ate. It was a horrible catch-22. You’re out of it, finally.

You still have a lot of work to do, but you’re not stuck in the food and looking to it for comfort and to numb out your feelings. Remember that you don’t ever want to be that way again. You know you need to keep working at it. You are SO worth it!

Love yourself always!

Love,

About the letter

I worked so hard during that time, focusing on living instead of food. As a result, I lost 88 lbs over a year and a half.

Unfortunately, I went back to using food less than a year later and gained most of the weight back.

I hadn’t seen that letter since I had tucked it in one of the last pages of my journal right after I wrote it. I write in that journal about every week, and the paper had stayed put for 2.5 years.

Having that letter fall out of my journal right after praying for help…

Coincidence?

I think not.

I’m not saying that after that moment food and all of my uncomfortable feelings were gone, but I did slowly begin to feel like things weren’t as bleak. From the dark place I had been, I saw a glimmer of light and new hope.

Love and light

This is my takeaway from this experience: Even in your darkest moments, something good waits for you. It waits patiently for you to get out of your own way.

Sometimes you need to accept the fact that things don’t always go the way you want them to, and that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.

Your turn

When you’re ready, writing a letter to yourself can help you see where you once were and how far you’ve come. Pull it out when you need it. Let it shine on your self-doubts, fears, worries, shame, guilt- all of the uncomfortable feelings inside yourself, and show you that you’re worth more than those feelings.

Feelings come and go, swinging up and down, but you are what you make of yourself. There’s good and love in everyone. At least that’s what I choose to believe.

Final thoughts on writing a letter to yourself

I barely remember writing that letter to myself but am so happy I did. I have to smile thinking about the moment it fell out of my journal and realizing what it was.

I hope you’ve gained something from my story- even if you’re not a believer in prayer.

I hope you choose to take the time to write a letter to yourself. The benefits will surprise you- and who doesn’t want that?

Do you know someone who would be interested in this post? I would be honored if you would share it!