How Does Abstract Poetry Align with Personal Growth and Healing?
Exploring how to use metaphors in poetry to share your challenging experiences and protect the integrity of your living relationships.
The best gift you can give the world is your whole, healed self.
It’s said that telling our stories matter for so many reasons. It is cathartic and empowering to say the thing that needs to be said to free yourself. It can also bring a voice to someone else’s silent struggles.
Tor many, healing happens beyond the borders and source of your pain. Growth journeys can create a sense of isolation and seem as if no one sees, understands or supports you. As you spend time in quiet introspection, reflective journaling, counselling therapy or self-directed learning to address the challenges in your life, you start to notice you’re shifting for the better. This can often spark a desire to support others who may feel the same.
The tricky thing is, our personal stories often involve others who are still a valued part of our lives. In that case, how do you share your insights with others and protect the details you wish to keep private?
I’ve started exploring different ways to share healing stories through the lens of poetry and metaphors. To illustrate, I recently published a poem titled, An Introvert’s Winter Lifesong.
How to Use Abstract Poetry and Metaphors
The poem describes several themes including individuation collectivism, dysfunctional relational roles, navigating grief stages, drawing on spirituality and faith. It also describes a wounded self-concept and embracing your passions, creativity and goals to live a wholehearted life.
Yet, the poem does not explicitly state these themes, nor does it use psychology language or mention specific relationships. Here are a few examples:
Winter storm is a metaphor for defining moments or challenging experiences.
Wisdom refers to a faith source.
Ancient truths reference generational patterns.
Words is a metaphor for a writing passion; and
The sun symbolises the aha moments or new insights that surfaces.
The Gifts of Writing
Writing is a powerful way to heal and grow. Abstract poetry is an artful way to share your thoughts while preserving the integrity of your living relationships.
This form of writing allows readers to interpret and extract subjective meaning from your story and deepen their understanding of their challenges. It can also create a sense of camaraderie and empathy to let others know they’re not alone in their struggles.
In Closing
One of the most helpful phrases in counselling spaces, is one that creates a sense of camaraderie: ‘What you’re feeling is not uncommon. You’re not alone in this’.
The greatest gift to offer yourself, your loved ones, and the world is your healed, whole self, rooted in authenticity and laced with grace, compassion. Internal healing is about freeing yourself from mental and emotional bondages that have kept you stuck in pain and suffering. It can set you on a new path to craft a life fuelled by peace, creativity and joy. If you’re someone like me navigating a later life season, these are outcomes worth healing for and outcomes worth sharing. One way to do that is through abstract storytelling.
Until next time, travel gently on your midlife journey.
XoXo
Glynis / The Midlife Introvert
I really like your approach to sharing personal experiences through abstract poetry. It's a clever way to process your own journey while offering a space for others to connect without feeling exposed.