What's Your Reason?
There has been a jump in my subscribers lately, and I am grateful for each one of you. I appreciate the time you spend with your eyes on my words, and I hope that at least some of them hit your heart and help you heal.
This Write to Heal community started as a way for me to keep writing after my book was published. After spending almost a full year writing my life stories to be published, and discovering connections between emotions and experiences and the lessons from it all, I was drained. Finding healing is hard work! It was a powerful therapeutic experience, but I was ready for a break.
The break didn’t last long.
I began missing the peace I had previously found from consistently emptying my emotions onto the page. My mind began overflowing, like a raging river breaking over its banks. Sitting down to write creates a dam and allows me to sift through the waters. Writing creates a spillway to release the junk that builds up in my mind.
I realized I didn’t just miss writing; I needed it to feel settled in my soul.
Once I discovered Substack, it became my weekly ritual to journal here, then publish it for others to find healing alongside me, using the same structure as my book, Fragile Thoughts.
As the community grew, my reasons for being here shifted, and I began considering ways to engage people from all across the globe.
Please comment below where you’re reading from ~ I’m in Phoenixville, PA about 1 hour outside of Philadelphia.
Welcome to all the new subscribers and community members!!
Because there is an influx of new people from all around the globe, I want to reintroduce myself and reflect on my reason for being here ~ and find out what brought you here.
This is my first post, which introduces me and my hope for the community…
Introducing Katie Bean's Substack
Welcome to the #WriteToHeal community where all are invited to read, reflect, write, and share.
Things have changed over the past year.
I started by wanting to share my insights with others, but quickly learned that Substack is about collaboration and community. The people I’ve met here and the community conversations in Notes, in the Chat, and on Podcasts have been inspiring and motivating.
Learning about Islam from
has expanded my understanding of spirituality. Joining the Intentional Eating Group hosted by was a valuable use of my time, and I loved meeting weekly with the group. Connecting with the fun and witty on her podcast brought me such joy. These are just a few of the people who have had an impact on my Substack experience.Who has had the biggest impact on you?
While I still write raw reflections of my life and include journal prompts to get others to write, I began finding different ways to engage the community so we can heal on this journey together.
Community Circles: Once a month, we meet on Zoom to write together using 5 journal prompts for 5 minutes each
The next one is on Tuesday, April 29 from 745pm-830pm - free to RSVP here.
Yin & Journaling Workshops: Once a quarter, I’ve offered a longer writing and embodiment practice
The next one is on Sunday, May 18 from 8pm-930pm EST - RSVP here
Writing and Yoga Retreats: A few times a year, I offer a one-night escape with activities to inspire and find healing
The last one was in March and I’m working on picking dates for the next one!
Bringing people together is one way to elevate the Write To Heal community - and elevate is my Word of the Year!
Learn more about my life-changing word of the year practice in a few posts here:
Why are you here?
As the community is growing, I’d love to get a sense of what your reason is for being here. What brought you to this page? Was it recommended? Did you stumble upon it? What inspires you to open a post and keep reading? What else would you like me to offer?
Please take a moment to respond to this very brief survey so I can ensure I continue to offer what you need. Thank you!
I truly believe that we can only learn and grow through open and honest feedback. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me. Meet me in the chat to talk more about what helps you heal!
Journal Prompts:
What is your reason for being here? Not here in this Write to Heal post - but here, on planet Earth, in this lifetime? What is your purpose here? When answering journal prompts this big, I tend to use sentence stems. Write out “I am here because…” and complete the sentence a few times. “My reason is…” and complete that a few times. Don’t think ahead and just see what comes. You might surprise yourself.
What experiences of community had the biggest impact on you and why? Write about the place, people, and purpose of a group that left an impression on you.
Consider a time when feedback helped you. Was it hard to hear at first? In what ways has constructive criticism helped you learn and grow? Write about the situation, who gave you feedback, and how you felt about it at the time, and how your feelings about it might have changed over time.
Thank you for reading Write to Heal. Please hit that heart button❤️if you made it this far and share it with someone you think would enjoy it or benefit from it.
Thank you so much Katie! I appreciate you.