--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I start to write down my feelings…" description: "\"“If I start to write down my feelings, isn't that the same as writing down my problems? Won't it be dangerous? What if then I feel like I need to tell ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/cecily-anne-paterson-103013_books_if-i-start-to-write-down-my-feelings-isn_952657.jpg" --- # If I start to write down my feelings, isn't that the same… ![“If I start to write down my feelings, isn't that the same as writing down my problems? Won't it be dangerous? What if then I feel like I need to tell someone my problems? Will they be angry? Will they leave? "It's just a book", I tell myself. "It's just a book and a book can't leave me. A book…” quote by Cecily Anne Paterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/cecily-anne-paterson-103013_books_if-i-start-to-write-down-my-feelings-isn_952657.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/cecily-anne-paterson-103013_books_if-i-start-to-write-down-my-feelings-isn_952657.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/596/cecily-anne-paterson-103013_books_if-i-start-to-write-down-my-feelings-isn_952657.jpg) > ““If I start to write down my feelings, isn't that the same as writing down my problems? Won't it be dangerous? What if then I feel like I need to tell someone my problems? Will they be angry? Will they leave? "It's just a book", I tell myself. "It's just a book and a book can't leave me. A book can't decide who it wants to be with. The worst that can happen is I don't do it anymore, right? I'll give it a try.”” Cecily Anne Paterson ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing feelings can feel risky, but it offers a safe outlet and self‑reflection, reducing fear of exposure. **In simple terms:** Writing feelings is safe and helps process problems. Key Takeaway Write to understand, not to expose. Themes self‑expression writing therapy emotional honesty fear of vulnerability self‑care Mood anxious reflective Type advice personal null When to use this quote - personal therapy - emotional processing - creative writing - self‑reflection Key Concepts psychology journaling cognitive processing Questions to Reflect On - What fears arise when you write your feelings? - Can writing substitute talking to someone? A Different Perspective Writing may not replace professional help for deep issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) ## Related quotes > [“Your life is like a book you decide what to write on it or erase from it; But you might not be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/topsy-gift/your-life-is-like-a-book-you-decide-what-to-write-on-it-or-erase-from/) [Topsy Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/topsy-gift/) > [I can walk into a bookshop and point out a number of books that I find very unattractive in what they say. But it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/i-can-walk-into-a-bookshop-and-point-out-a-number-of-books-that-i/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Feelings for someone isn't just a word. But to prove it what you really feel for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jpabugais/feelings-for-someone-isn-t-just-a-word-but-to-prove-it-what-you/) Jpabugais > [Hiding your feelings isn't a viable option now since everyone seems to be able to read you like an open book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hiding-your-feelings-isn-t-a-viable-option-now-since-everyone-seems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hiding the truth about your feelings towards someone from them isn't pathetic, it's pretty smart actually...Because why ruin everything?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hiding-the-truth-about-your-feelings-towards-someone-from-them-isn-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Avoiding feelings isn’t the same as protecting feelings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/avoiding-feelings-isn-t-the-same-as-protecting-feelings/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Catching feelings isn't the problem. Catching feelings for the wrong person is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/catching-feelings-isn-t-the-problem-catching-feelings-for-the-wrong/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [And you may blame me for your feelings, but it isn't fair to blame me for how you've chosen to behave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/and-you-may-blame-me-for-your-feelings-but-it-isn-t-fair-to-blame-me/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [“Love doesn't measure that way, she thought to him. And you may blame me for your feelings, but it isn't fair to blame me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cashore/love-doesn-t-measure-that-way-she-thought-to-him-and-you-may-blame-me/) [Kristin Cashore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cashore/) > [You can have lots of feelings and have the same feelings over and over again. It isn't the recognizable feelings that make so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-gendlin/you-can-have-lots-of-feelings-and-have-the-same-feelings-over-and/) [Eugene Gendlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-gendlin/) > [I write about my feelings, things that happen in my life and experiences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-carter/i-write-about-my-feelings-things-that-happen-in-my-life-and/) [Aaron Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-carter/) > [I don't want a middle-aged white man telling me how to write my feelings. It's not gonna work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-don-t-want-a-middle-aged-white-man-telling-me-how-to-write-my/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [My mother had always taught me to write about my feelings instead of sharing really personal things with others, so I spent many evenings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-guisewite/my-mother-had-always-taught-me-to-write-about-my-feelings-instead-of/) [Cathy Guisewite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-guisewite/) > [Never be afraid to fall in love. Never be afraid to express it either. You just need to write down your feelings on leaves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thegr81/never-be-afraid-to-fall-in-love-never-be-afraid-to-express-it-either/) Thegr81 > [I remember that as I was writing a poem on 'Snow' when I was eight, I said aloud, 'I wish I could have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/i-remember-that-as-i-was-writing-a-poem-on-snow-when-i-was-eight-i/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) ## More by Cecily Anne Paterson > [“I know things have been hard for you. I'm not saying that's an excuse. There's never an excuse for doing the wrong thing, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecily-anne-paterson/i-know-things-have-been-hard-for-you-i-m-not-saying-that-s-an-excuse/) Cecily Anne Paterson Explore all 2 Cecily Anne Paterson quotes ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If I start to write down my feelings, isn't that the same as writing down my problems? Won't it be dangerous? What if then I feel like I need to tell someone my problems? Will they be angry? Will they leave? \"It's just a book\", I tell myself. \"It's just a book and a book can't leave me. A book can't decide who it wants to be with. The worst that can happen is I don't do it anymore, right? 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