The Inward Journey

Writing, Thinking, and Being Through the Illness Story

Abstract

This paper explores the cohesive and insightful narrative that emerges where research, thinking, writing, and being converge, emphasising the dynamic essence of academic inquiry in the journey of knowledge creation. It examines the interplay between my doctoral research journey titled Women Living with Autoimmune Invisible Illnesses: An Autoethnographic Study and Narratives in Malta and the writing process of this paper. Inspired by J. Campbell’s insight that ‘where you stumble, there lies your treasure,’ my writing unfolded as a transformative exploration, revealing layers of self in tandem with the project’s evolving layers. Kierkegaard’s notion that life must be lived forward but can only be understood backward resonates throughout, guiding my oscillation between the past and present in the realms of writing and thinking. Navigating memories, events, and reflections enriched the narrative, highlighting that this process was not a straightforward one. While writing, I came to realise that although my focus evolved from my doctoral thesis, the narrative in this paper continued to expand—the story is never fully or exhaustively told. Beyond the material and patterns identified in my thesis, I reflect on the transformative process, acknowledging its ongoing impact on my unfolding life story.