The complex tug-of-war between reason and emotion determines the quality of your life. When you come to understand that the heart’s language is different from the grammar of the mind, you can learn to translate between the two, improve your emotional health, and make better choices in relationships.
In this live four-week writing series, Mark guides you through a series of four explorations into the dialogue between heart and mind. You’ll reflect on how logic interferes with deep feelings, and when powerful emotions hijack your reason and decision-making. Mark points you to the blind spots, assumptions, habits, and biases that often sabotage emotional connection, drawing on a wealth of psychological research.
“Mark Matousek opens the craft of writing as a way to dive into the art of self-reflection. Writing to Awaken will restore meaning and change your life.”
~Mark Nepo, NY Times bestselling author and teacher.
Each 90-minute session will begin with an introduction to the week’s topic followed by two Writing to Awaken practices designed to prompt insight and self-awareness. Class participants may join optional break-out groups for conversation, and we’ll have plenty of time for questions and answers following each exercise. You can register for the complete four-week series or individual sessions.
These live sessions are a great opportunity to practice Writing to Awaken in a relaxed atmosphere of mutual support and investigation. No writing experience is necessary to benefit from this course. All you need are curiosity, pen and paper, and the desire to deepen your self-awareness. Like a weekly meditation or yoga class, these sessions strengthen the muscle of self-inquiry, stabilize the mind and body, and deepen connection with yourself.
Known for his intuitive, compassionate teaching, Mark creates a welcoming atmosphere for writers of all levels to benefit from this powerful work. You are not required to share you writing in this class.
Scientific studies have shown that a regular writing practice has the ability to improve physical, mental, and emotional health in dramatic ways. Writing to Awaken has helped thousands of people around the world to reach their creative and spiritual goals. No writing experience is necessary. Curiosity, courage, and the willingness to question your personal narratives are all you need to benefit from these inspiring, supportive class.
Mark describes the power of writing to heal in this essay from The Saturday Evening Post.
Session Overview
Session One: Speaking to the Heart and Mind
Thursday, August 20, 2026
In this first lesson, we explore the interaction between emotion and reason in love. You’ll learn about the differences between emotional and rational intelligence, how your inner voices conflict, and ways to achieve greater balance between the two.
Session Two: The Blind Spots of Love
Thursday, August 27, 2026
In this second session, we explore the assumptions, biases, habits, and unconscious patterns that distort perception and interfere with intimacy. You’ll learn to identify unconscious beliefs that influence love and desire, and to question your emotional narratives.
Session Three: Desire, Longing, and Inner Conflict
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Desire may point in one direction while reason insists on another. In this third lesson, we reflect on longing, ambivalence, and contradiction in matters of the heart. You’ll learn to distinguish authentic desire from pleasure seeking and recognize how internal conflict causes alienation.
Session Four: Balancing Emotion and Reason
Thursday, September 10, 2026
In this final lesson, you focus on closing the gap between heart and mind, particularly in close relationships. You’ll investigate how to bring balance to these cherished connections, and to trust the guidance of intuition, the bridge between emotion and reason.
How the Guided Writing Series Works
Each live session meets on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. Eastern on Zoom which is accessible from your computer, smart phone or tablet. Dial-in options are also available for those who don’t want to use video.
Each session is 90 minutes and consists of Mark’s lesson, two writing prompts with sharing, discussion, and a Q&A after each exercise. You are not required to participate in the group dialog. Anonymity is respected. The session playback links are emailed to all registrants the following day. The Zoom Meeting access details are emailed the day prior and one hour before the start of each session.
Whether you’re a longtime journal keeper or have never considered yourself a writer, the Writing to Awaken process meets you exactly where you are.