“Dont underestimate the power of vision and direction. These are irresistible forces, able to transform what might appear to be unconquerable obstacles into traversable pathways and expanding opportunities”- Jordan Peterson
I came across Jordan Peterson’s Self Authoring suite about 2 years ago. This is a writing program that is broken up into 4 sections; future authoring, past authoring, present authoring (faults), present authoring (virtues).
The Self- Authoring Suite is a series on online writing programs meant to explore your past, present and future.
I have heard Jordan Peterson say that people live within the stories they tell themselves. If this is true- it seems the fastest way to change your life would be to change your story.
In 1986, James W. Pennebaker pioneered a body of research linking written narrative to enhanced mental and physical health.
He tested 2 groups of people over time. Group 1 was asked to write and describe a traumatic personal experience.
Group 2 was asked to write about a trivial topic.
The group asked to write about traumatic experiences experienced improvements in general physical health compares to group 2. These improvements included fewer consultations with physicials, greater long-term psychological health and improved immune function.
Interestingly enough, the future authoring program has proven to be most effective among the poorest performing students.
Academically struggling students at McGill University, after completing the Future Authoring program, increased their grades by 25% in one year. This same group of students decreased their drop out rate from 30% to 0%.
The same results were achieved at Erasmus University, amount 1,200 business students.
I first completed the Future Authoring program about 2 years ago. I am sure my “plan for the future” was nothing to brag home about. But as Jordan would say- a poorly written plan is better than no plan at all. In as that much is true- it served a purpose for me.
You can find more about the self authoring program here: