--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On a piece of paper, write down the thing…" description: "\"On a piece of paper, write down the thing that is stressing you, the obstacle that is in your way. Then put it in a box and just leave it there. At the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_boxes_on-a-piece-of-paper-write-down-the-thing_318157.png" --- # On a piece of paper, write down the thing that is… ![“On a piece of paper, write down the thing that is stressing you, the obstacle that is in your way. Then put it in a box and just leave it there. At the end of about a week, dispose of it - throw it in the trash or bury it - some sort of ritualistic act of releasing it.” quote by Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_boxes_on-a-piece-of-paper-write-down-the-thing_318157.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_boxes_on-a-piece-of-paper-write-down-the-thing_318157.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95f/gabrielle-bernstein-1984_boxes_on-a-piece-of-paper-write-down-the-thing_318157.png) > “On a piece of paper, write down the thing that is stressing you, the obstacle that is in your way. Then put it in a box and just leave it there. At the end of about a week, dispose of it - throw it in the trash or bury it - some sort of ritualistic act of releasing it.” [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Writing stressors, isolating them, and discarding them through ritual helps release mental burden and promotes emotional relief. **In simple terms:** Write, box, and discard worries to free yourself. Key Takeaway Use a physical ritual to let go of stress. Themes stress management ritual mindfulness mental health release Mood calm empowered Type practical self‑help When to use this quote - therapy sessions - daily journaling - stress workshops - personal coping strategies Key Concepts Symbolic disposal cognitive offloading emotional cleansing Questions to Reflect On - What stressors can you safely release? - How does physical act of discarding affect your mindset? A Different Perspective Ritual may not address root causes of stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dispose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dispose/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Stress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stress/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danzae-pace/stress-is-the-trash-of-modern-life-we-all-generate-it-but-if-you-don/) Danzae Pace > [First you have to witness that you are stressing out: Oh, my trigger is here. The news is stressing me out or This line…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/first-you-have-to-witness-that-you-are-stressing-out-oh-my-trigger-is/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Stressing and obsessing over your vision blocks it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/stressing-and-obsessing-over-your-vision-blocks-it/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [“Promise me...that you'll...\*cough\*...you'll dispose of my body in the waste receptacles...conveniently located by the theater exits...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-burlew/promise-me-that-you-ll-cough-you-ll-dispose-of-my-body-in-the-waste/) [Rich Burlew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-burlew/) > [“I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier's possessions to dispose of or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-chopin/i-am-no-longer-one-of-mr-pontellier-s-possessions-to-dispose-of-or-not/) [Kate Chopin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-chopin/) > [Had I but any time to lose, On this I would it all dispose. Cease Tempter. None can chain a mind Whom this sweet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/had-i-but-any-time-to-lose-on-this-i-would-it-all-dispose-cease/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dispose of everything that was lost. Theres no time to dream about something that wont come back. I must look forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bleach/dispose-of-everything-that-was-lost-theres-no-time-to-dream-about/) [Bleach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bleach/) > [“7 things negative people will do to you. They will... 1. Demean your value; 2. Destroy your image 3. Drive you crazily! 4. Dispose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/7-things-negative-people-will-do-to-you-they-will-1-demean-your-value/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [If you Despise of the book dont Dispose of the book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-joina/if-you-despise-of-the-book-dont-dispose-of-the-book/) Kimberly Joina > [The day we dispose of the idea of disposability will be a great one for the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-shoumatoff/the-day-we-dispose-of-the-idea-of-disposability-will-be-a-great-one/) [Alex Shoumatoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-shoumatoff/) > [How do you know I didn't bring you out here to dispose of you in private?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koushun-takami/how-do-you-know-i-didn-t-bring-you-out-here-to-dispose-of-you-in/) [Koushun Takami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koushun-takami/) > [A power to dispose of estates for ever is manifestly absurd. The earth and the fulness of it belongs to every generation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/a-power-to-dispose-of-estates-for-ever-is-manifestly-absurd-the-earth/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [A newspaperman said, 'You have to have a team in New York.' I replied, 'Who says you have to have a team in New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-giles/a-newspaperman-said-you-have-to-have-a-team-in-new-york-i-replied-who/) [Warren Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-giles/) > [We no longer dare to believe in beauty and we make of it a mere appearance in order the more easily to dispose of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/we-no-longer-dare-to-believe-in-beauty-and-we-make-of-it-a-mere/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [Dispose of everything that was lost. There’s no time to dream about something that won’t come back. I must look forward. Forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/dispose-of-everything-that-was-lost-there-s-no-time-to-dream-about/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) ## More by Gabrielle Bernstein > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [You'll realize the transformation is not for you alone. You'll learn that you're here to use this gift to shine light on the dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/you-ll-realize-the-transformation-is-not-for-you-alone-you-ll-learn/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [Stress is actually the number one thing that blocks people from their happiness and well-being and from getting what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/stress-is-actually-the-number-one-thing-that-blocks-people-from-their/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [The practice of being on a spiritual path isn't about being the best meditator or the kindest possible person or the most enlightened. 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