Handwriting Analysis for Self-Improvement

You've probably heard that your handwriting reveals personality traits to the trained eye, but did you know that you can change aspects of your personality by changing your handwriting? This type of self-improvement is referred to as graphotherapy.

How It Works

Handwriting is an ideomotor response, which means that it's affected by your thoughts, rather than being a mere reflex. In other words, your handwriting reflects what is going on in your mind, especially your subconscious mind. When the changes you make in your handwriting become habitual, so too will the accompanying traits become a habit in your mind and behavior.

Self-Esteem and Goals

One of the most telling letters in handwriting regarding self esteem and goals is the small letter t. The stem of the letter t indicates the writer's self esteem. If it's tall, the writer is confident. If it's the same height as single level letters (such as a) the writer has low self confidence. If the stem is looped, the writer is probably hypersensitive to criticism. A tent-shaped stem indicates stubbornness. If the height of the stem varies, the writer could be going through some changes.

The bar that crosses the t gives clues to the writer's goals in life. If the crossbar is near the top of the stem, the person has set high, attainable goals. If the bar is so high that it floats above the stem, though, the goals might be too high to reach. In this latter case, the writer could be imaginative, but she has to learn how to act on her dreams. If the bar is lower than one fourth from the top of the stem, the writer's goals are low. If the bar starts strong and then tapers off, it could be that the goal is too tough. If the bar is long and strong, the writer has a deep drive for success and the willpower to go all the way. If the bar hangs mostly or only to the right of the stem, the writer is in a hurry and might make hasty decisions. Mostly to the left of the stem is a sign of procrastination. A t that looks like a star (a connecting line from the bottom of the stem to the end of the crossbar) is characteristic of a writer who is tenacious, possibly to the point of holding onto a goal or purpose beyond reasoning. If the crossings vary, the writer could be experiencing a conflict of inner wills.

If you want higher self esteem, simply make an effort to make higher stems. If you want to set higher goals, raise your crossbar (but not above the stem). If you want to stop being overly sensitive to criticism, close up the loop in the stem. To stop procrastinating, move your crossbar more to the right of the stem. To slow down, move your crossbar more to the left.

Emotional Expression

The slant of your handwriting represents your degree of emotional expression. If the letters are straight up and down, the writer is logical. A slight slant to the right represents moderate emotional expression and the ability to empathize with other people. A little further right could mean the writer feels other peoples' feelings and reacts to them. An extreme right slant is characteristic of someone who is highly emotional, acting before thinking and possibly becoming hysterical under pressure.

A slight left slant is typical of a shy person who has difficulty expressing ideas and emotions. The more to the left the slant is, the more withdrawn the writer is and the more difficult it is to get along with that person.

So if you want to be more empathetic, work on making your handwriting slant slightly to the right. If you are overly emotional, pull your slant more to the left. If you want to climb out of your shell, change your back slant to a forward slant. To be more logical, eliminate the slant altogether.

Alleviating Frustration

When the lower loops of the letters g and y run into the next line of writing, the writer could be experiencing daily frustration, such as money or relationship problems. To alleviate such frustration, leave more space between each line so that the lower loops don't touch the next line of script.

By making small changes in your handwriting on a consistent basis, you can gradually enjoy a happier life with relatively little effort.