--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those of us who obsess over every word…" description: "\"Those of us who obsess over every word and action are constantly recalling past events, but that doesn't make them any less painful, nor does it help u..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/janice-erlbaum-43956_action_those-of-us-who-obsess-over-every-word-a_2638560.png" --- # Those of us who obsess over every word and action are… ![“Those of us who obsess over every word and action are constantly recalling past events, but that doesn't make them any less painful, nor does it help us transcend them. To write memoir, you have to not only recollect past events, you have to revisit them. You have to get back to the mental and…” quote by Janice Erlbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/janice-erlbaum-43956_action_those-of-us-who-obsess-over-every-word-a_2638560.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/janice-erlbaum-43956_action_those-of-us-who-obsess-over-every-word-a_2638560.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cba/janice-erlbaum-43956_action_those-of-us-who-obsess-over-every-word-a_2638560.png) > “Those of us who obsess over every word and action are constantly recalling past events, but that doesn't make them any less painful, nor does it help us transcend them. To write memoir, you have to not only recollect past events, you have to revisit them. You have to get back to the mental and emotional state you were in during those events.” [Janice Erlbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-erlbaum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Revisiting painful memories is necessary for memoir writing, but merely recalling them doesn't heal; one must re‑experience and transform them. **In simple terms:** Recall alone doesn't heal; re‑experience does. Key Takeaway Engage emotionally with past to grow. Themes memory healing writing emotional processing Mood introspective serious Type therapeutic reflective When to use this quote - therapy sessions - creative writing - personal reflection - education Key Concepts trauma theory narrative therapy Questions to Reflect On - How can you safely revisit painful memories? - What transforms recollection into healing? A Different Perspective Risk of re‑traumatization if not guided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Get back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-back/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir/) [Memoir Recollect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memoir-recollect-2248998/) [Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-events/) [Recalling Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recalling-past-714085/) [Recollect Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recollect-past-2248999/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Words and actions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-and-actions/) [Write Memoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-memoir-437896/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“You're smiling. 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