The Power of Handwriting

In the Level 1 workshop, I ask members to work through the exercises by hand on paper rather than typing them on a computer. This is intentional.

Putting that workshop together has meant I’ve tested this process hundreds of times on paper and on a computer. This picture represents just a few days worth of testing by hand.

And I can tell you from experience that writing by hand produces consistently better results.

Why?

Just some of my hand-written tests

Well, when people write by hand, the process naturally slows down. This gives the mind more space to reflect, notice patterns, and generate clearer answers. Typing, on the other hand, tends to keep the mind in a fast, reactive mode, which often leads to surface-level responses.

Trust me when I say, you get much better results when you do it by hand, with a blue pen, on white paper (or the A4 template provided in the workshop that you can print out and write on).

Handwriting also engages the brain more fully than typing. It involves coordination between movement, vision, memory, and attention. Because of this, ideas tend to flow more freely, and people often access thoughts they wouldn’t reach as easily on a keyboard.

Another important difference is focus. When you write by hand, there are fewer distractions. You’re not switching tabs, checking notifications, or editing as you go. This makes it easier to stay present with the exercise and follow the process as it’s designed.

In simple terms, handwriting creates the right conditions for this kind of work:
- It slows the mind
- it improves focus
- It encourages reflection
- It allows clearer ideas to surface

Latest Posts

The Author

Matt Corcoran is the founder of Find True Purpose. He has studied the purpose and meaning of life for more than 30 years, as a passion, a complimentary therapist and practitioner, and living his own big dreams.