Close-Up Shot of a Person Writing on a Paper
Journaling with Your Other Hand
If you’ve been exploring Dr. Sarno’s approach to journaling, you might appreciate a companion method that feels more creative, intuitive, and emotionally nourishing. The Power of Your Other Hand by Lucia Capacchione invites you to pick up a pen with your non-dominant hand—and listen.
What comes out might surprise you. This simple practice opens up a gentle space to connect with your inner child, your body, or even parts of yourself that have been holding onto pain. It’s not about perfect handwriting or deep analysis. It’s about making room for feelings that don’t always come out in structured writing. For many people with fibromyalgia, this softer style of journaling can offer comfort, clarity, and a sense of self-compassion that blends beautifully with the more direct work of Dr. Sarno.
“When you write with your non-dominant hand, you access a different part of the brain—one that holds feelings, images, and body memories.” — Lucia Capacchione
Try this:
Using your dominant hand, write: “How are you feeling today?”
Then, switch to your non-dominant hand and let the answer come. Don’t judge it—just let it speak.
About Capacchione
When Capacchione became ill, she consulted with a gestalt therapist, and one of the tasks she was given was to journal, but with a catch. She was asked to write with her left hand. And then something remarkable happened.
"I had other dialogues: with body parts needing to be healed, emotions wanting to be released, dreams yearning to see the light of day, creative ideas wanting to be born, and inner wisdom giving me answers to life's questions."
Through her left hand, she communicated with a whole cast of characters, including a frightened vulnerable child, a playful kid, an outrageous woman in red, and a wise woman.
Through journaling and drawing with her other hand eventually found the inner peace and health she was looking for.
How to write with your other hand
You will need some unlined paper and a pen or pencil.
Hold your pen or pencil in the hand you don't usually write with, and begin writing. Don't worry about neatness, legibility, spelling, grammar, or vocabulary. Let your feelings flow.
Read what you wrote. Then switch to your dominant hand and write down your reaction to what you wrote with your other hand.
Switch back to your non-dominant hand, and write a reply. Continue the dialogue by switching from hand to hand, noticing any new feelings and insights that emerge.
Speaking Up Exercise
Select a person or authority figure that you are having trouble with. Let this person write with your dominant hand. Use their typical "voice." The tone of voice may be authoritative, condescending, angry, or more
With your weaker hand, write your true feelings and reactions, making sure not to hold back. Let all your emotions flow. Continue dialoguing back and forth until both sides have had their say. This may take time.
Afterward, note any new insights and feelings you have about the other person in your dialogue. Observe any changes in your actual dealings with this other person.
You can do this exercise with real people in your life, people from the past, or even imaginary people, such as a critical inner voice or the procrastinator within.
Remember that this is simply an exercise in communicating with your subconscious. If someone were to write to a boss because they were overlooked for a promotion, I’d be very surprised if they were offered a promotion the next day. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if that person’s inner attitude towards work changed.
Your Heart's Desire Journaling Exercise
If you have a dream, desire, or secret wish, this exercise could help you uncover any conscious or unconscious blockages that keep on saying "NO" to that particular heart's desire.
Begin by writing down your dream or wish. Ask yourself what it is that you want but can't have right now.
Create two characters in your mind; one represents your Heart's Desire, and the other your Block. This might be the Artist versus the Perfectionist, the Traveler versus the safety expert, or the Dreamer versus the Nag.
The Block is stronger right now, so it writes with the dominant hand. Your Heart's Desire is weaker for now, so it writes with the weaker hand.
Begin a dialogue by having your weaker hand express its wishes. Be as elaborate and detailed as you can be.
Then let your stronger hand tell its story, explaining why it continually blocks your desire.
Keep writing back and forth until you notice a shift in power. Often, this happens subtly — your Heart’s Desire grows in confidence, or the Block runs out of valid arguments and begins to soften.
As the dialogue unfolds, you may feel a new insight arise, a sense of release, or a quiet conviction in your true direction. The Block may no longer seem so powerful, and its voice may begin to fade, losing its grip on your inner world. Let the writing continue until your Heart’s voice feels strong, steady, and free to dream once more.
I’m Dr. Rodger Douglas, DMH, a South African-born homeopath now based in Osaka, Japan. With a psychology degree from Nelson Mandela University and a diploma from the Hahnemann College of Heilkunst, I specialize in holistic care for fibromyalgia. I serve clients by phone or video across the US, Canada, the UK, and beyond.