The Benefits of Life Story Writing

Life Story Writing is a form of memoir writing. There are too many benefits to fit into one blog post. As reported in Psychology Today, research shows that even brief autobiographical storytelling exercises can have substantial impacts on psychological and physical health even months after the storytelling. The two angles to focus on here are the internal benefits and external benefits; from the perspective of the writer and from the perspective of the recipient of the writing. Several references to selected research are included in this blog post. 

Proven by research, there are many benefits of writing life stories for the writer. Besides the obvious benefit of preserving memories, writers who invest in the experience of expressive writing can see gains in their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral health especially if their writing is shared in real-time. Shared experiences and connectedness are innate to human nature. The sharing aspect of Guided Autobiography (GAB), the format used in my life writing classes, is transformative and empowering to the writer who shares with the same small group over several sessions. According to Rappaport (1995), "listening to people's stories and creating settings that value and support their narratives should be considered as an 'empowering activity'." 

Life Story Writers: Steve, Karen, George, and Sal

Two self benefits of life writing are improved self-concept and increased self-awareness. Carmen Nigro, in an article she wrote in 2015 for the New York Public Library, connects personal history with putting perspective and purpose in one's life. "You begin to understand yourself better than you ever have.”  There is a reflective aspect to life writing often with a strong focus on personal perspective.  Camille Geraci, a life writer from one of my recent courses, came to understand the meaning and value of her chosen life's work as she weighed the expectations her father had for her:  

I realized, my life’s work was not to be among high fashion elite teams of people in NYC watching my designs grace the runway. I now actually think I would’ve hated that world. But instead, I believe my life’s purpose is to inspire others. Not just to inspire people to make, but to inspire people to pursue their passions no matter what they are.

Besides leaving a legacy for current and future generations, what value does writing one's life story have to others?  Harvard Medical School released a report about the cognitive benefits of writing your life story. The report also spoke to the impact life stories have on future generations:  "Sure, you'd like to leave behind money or personal items to your grandchildren, family, and friends, but the gift that literally can last forever is your personal history. Besides sharing your stories, your memoirs can be an opportunity to pass along specific wisdom and life lessons." And, as expressed by Deborah Wilbrink at Perfect Memoirs, preserving your life story leaves a meaningful legacy that provides intergenerational connectedness. An obvious point but it is easier to be inspired by your grandfather's story when that story has been told, recorded, and shared.

Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of writing and sharing one's life story is that it helps the writer to find meaning and the reader to find wisdom. Based on research done by Jerome Bruner (1991), he has the view that "the narrative mode of thinking is a fundamental tool of human meaning-making". Stories provide reflection but also inspire others!