Other Forms of Free Association Writing July 8, 2009

I have been sharing some methods of free association writing that worked for me to access my subconscious mind. These are not the only ways that I have read about – only the ways that were most successful for me.

One of the most common forms of free association writing I have heard of involves trying to write with your non-dominant hand (writing with your left hand if you are right-handed and vice versa). The idea is that you are accessing a different part of your brain by writing with your non-dominant hand.

If you want to try this method, place a pen or pencil into your non-dominant hand. Then, simply begin writing. Just write whatever comes to mind, even if it is, “I am feeling really foolish doing this.” Try to relax your mind and allow your hand to take over the writing. Many people report having lots of success access their subconscious minds in this manner. Let go of your need for good penmanship, and see this as a tool for accessing parts of your mind that have thus far remained hidden from you.

Another method I have heard of is for you artistic folks. You can do the same thing with drawing or painting. Using either hand, begin drawing or painting, and try to remove all conscious thought from your strokes. Allow your hand to do whatever it feels like it needs to do. This can give your subconscious mind an outlet for expressing whatever needs to come out.

I got another method from one of Dr. Phil’s books (can’t remember which one). He said to write down every thought you have for a couple of days to get an idea about the internal dialogue going on in your head. That was quite enlightening as well. I did not appreciate how frequently I told myself that I was “stupid” until doing this exercise.

I am sure there are other methods as well. Find the one that works best for you. Don’t just look at the results, but learn from them. As you change what you are thinking subconsciously, you can change your life.

Photo credit: Faith Allen