Narrative Healing: Awaken the Power of Your Story

Writing and mindfulness coach Weinert debuts with an empathetic guide to healing personal trauma through somatic and narrative writing practices. Because “our stories live in our bodies,” Weinert’s six-stage program begins with physical activities, such as breath work, to “soothe [the] nervous system and guide the body [away] from a fight, flight, freeze or fawn response”; moves on to meditation and mindfulness; and later involves putting pen to paper—first to “heal and seek meaning” individually, and then to share work with a confidante, since true self-transformation requires “an outside source, perspective, and energy, the same way pollen alone can’t fertilize other flowers; it needs to be moved around by bees.” Weinert intersperses approachable, bite-size sections that cover all stages of the creative process, from setting intentions for one’s writing to getting published, along with flexible and compassionate exercises, many of which can be completed in a few minutes. For instance, readers can write a letter (to a lover, book character, or even a body part) as a “powerful first step toward connection, whether you send anything or not.” It’s ideal for creatives seeking catharsis or those looking to further develop their journaling practice. (July)

This review has been updated with further information.