I always have so much to say after an argument, breakup, disagreement, etc. with someone. It’s like I freeze in the moment or don’t want to be too mean or problematic. And then regret it later.

Or I tend to have all these thoughts and feelings after I cut things off with someone (or if someone ends things with me.)

And I feel like I can’t always just hit them up, after weeks or months of not talking or no contact, to express everything.

In those moments, I like to write down how I’m feeling because journaling is a great outlet for me. And I also sometimes like to address the person by writing out my emotions and feelings like I’m writing to them directly.

Writing letters I’ll never send to someone I have a lot of unresolved feelings with releases pent-up emotions and allows me to see my healing and growth.

It releases your pent-up emotions.

When I have strong feelings toward someone (good or bad), I’m constantly refraining from loudly expressing them. It’s nice to be open and expressive, but sometimes I like to keep my cards to myself.

Whether that’s because I’ve already told a man off too many times and tired of them not listening.

It could be because I want to curse my boss out and don’t want to get fired.

Or maybe if I have a lot of feelings for a crush that I’m not ready to let out yet.

Maybe it’s even someone I haven’t talked to in years that I want to get my feelings off my chest without bothering them.

There could be so many reasons that results in me having unresolved emotions and feelings toward someone.

Not everyone needs (and more importantly, deserves) to hear how I feel about them.

It’s ultimately your choice of what you share, and I think it’s a privilege for someone to get to be close enough and important enough to you to be able to get a glimpse into your emotions.

When you have a lot of pent-up emotions and feelings toward someone or a situation, I encourage you to write that letter (or letters) to them, whether you send it or keep it to yourself.

It allows you to see how far you’ve come.

Healing is a linear process, and sometimes we get so caught up in the end goal of being over someone or a situation, that we tend to forget to look at how far we’ve come in the process.

I enjoy looking back at letters or notes I’ve never sent and see how much I’ve grown as a person, since the version of me who was so hurt and emotional.

I like to look at the girl who was so desperate for someone’s approval, the girl who needed to express every way someone hurt me.

I look back at the letters of someone who has done the healing and self love work, and I’m so proud of that person.

I’m not perfect, and I’m not where I want to be in my self love journey, but I know that I’ve progressed a little bit from who I was when writing the letters.

I’ll even write a series of letters or notes, and it’s interesting watching my progress and my feelings change.

Maybe I’m just sentimental and like that kind of stuff, and maybe you are that type too.