I recently joined Substack as a platform for reading, writing and seeking inspiration. Substack is a media platform that appeals to many types of people of all ages including artists, podcasters, video creators, musicians, writers and educators. It has achieved outstanding growth since starting in 2017 with the number of active monthly subscribers growing to more than 20 million.
Part of the appeal of Substack is that people can make money on the platform through paid subscriptions, selling digital products or creative works. However, to me, a core reason that the platform is sustainable is its ability to facilitate healing and growth through writing. Kelly Reynolds articulates this personal development goal very well when she comments on her Substack:
I’m not here to get rich. I’m here to connect and grow and discover new things about myself.
Many writers on Substack differentiate this platform from other social media platforms such as LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. They point out that they do not feel pressure to acquire “likes” or to portray themselves other than they truly are. There is no one-upmanship. People are frequently expressing vulnerability rather than strength with a disarming level of honesty, sincerity, and transparency.
People are exploring self-awareness and healing as they grapple with chronic illness, death of a loved one, loss of a job/career, divorce, life transitions and relocation to another country. There are many women in their 30’s who are experiencing the need to break from the stifling and stressful atmosphere of corporate life and to find a new, rewarding path beyond other people’s expectations. Some face multiple challenges and are courageous in their pursuit of a more fulfilling life.
Substack epitomises the healing power of storytelling and the empowerment of narrative therapy. Annie Brewster who created the Health Story Collaborative captures this healing impact in her book, The Healing Power of Storytelling: Using Personal Narrative to Navigate Illness, Trauma and Loss. There are many people on Substack who comment that they are writing on the platform not to make money but to achieve healing. Julia Hann, for example, commented recently:
I love the idea of writing as a healing mechanism. I use writing as a therapeutic tool and have found it to be very helpful in my life.
Reflection
Substack provides a unique opportunity for healing through storytelling. There is an accepting audience who are experiencing many of the challenges that Substack writers face. Criticism is very rare and people are highly supportive and welcoming. This kind of social support is one of the key ingredients for personal healing. As Thérèse Majella points out, writing on her Substack is a “healthy, healing pursuit”.
Writing too, especially in the form of poetry, can be a mindfulness practice. As we grow in mindfulness, through writing, reflection and reading, we can gain self-awareness, personal healing, changed perspectives and creative insight.
_______________________________
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
By Ron Passfield – Copyright (Creative Commons license, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives)
Disclosure: If you purchase a product through this site, I may earn a commission which will help to pay for the site, the associated Meetup group, and the resources to support the blog.