Today I'm going to share some lessons in mindfulness with you that will help you gain clarity on how you can do your most powerful work.
There are three ingredients to powerful work and the first one has to do with the stories we tell ourselves all the time.
Especially as writers when our tool is language we can use language to tie ourselves in knots and keep us stuck.
I have found in my work with clients that it sometimes helps to think more like a priest or a scientist at first and this can lead us to deeper more powerful work.
The first ingredient to untie the knot of your inertia is honesty.
Honesty is not trying to be anywhere else than where you are.
Those stories in your head that keep you stuck they keep you stuck because they take you out of the present moment and the present moment is the only place where you can get your powerful work done.
So take out your journal and get ready to get honest.
We'll write for one minute in response to each of these four questions.
First question is how do you feel right now?
Any ideas?
Finish the phrase that you're writing now.
And the second question is,
What is concerning you?
What is concerning you?
What is concerning you?
Very good.
And finish the phrase you're writing now.
And the next question is,
What is wrong?
What is concerning you?
Good.
And finish the phrase you're writing,
And we'll write for one minute in response to the last question,
Which is,
What is right?
Good.
Very good.
Finish the phrase you're writing now.
And as always,
Put the journal to the side.
So the first ingredient to powerful work is honesty.
And taking one,
Two,
Three,
Or four minutes before you begin your creative work can help you dive into that place of deep honesty.
It doesn't take long.
It only takes facing it.
The second ingredient,
The one that scientists use all the time,
Is observation.
Observation is an important key in moving forward with our powerful work.
Observation is non-judgmental awareness of what is.
Let's try this right now.
Simply observe what is happening in your body.
You might take a deep breath into your belly and feel the muscles of the lower back or the pelvis or belly.
What is your body feeling there?
No judging,
Criticizing,
Or changing necessary.
Simply noticing.
Now practice observing in non-judgmental awareness of what is in your thoughts.
Watch yourself simply thinking.
No judging,
Criticizing,
Or changing.
Simply noticing.
Now practice observing in non-judgmental awareness what it is you are feeling emotionally.
No judging,
Criticizing,
Or changing.
Simply noticing.
When you observe in non-judgmental awareness of what is,
You become the character.
And you let your mind,
Body,
And spirit simply read the character's story.
Opening yourself to observation in this way lets you maintain a sense of awareness and calm.
And practicing it regularly will make your writing times much more enjoyable because you will be getting out of the way of your own resistance.
Once you've begun practicing honesty and observation,
This clears the way to the third ingredient for powerful work.
This is imagination.
Imagination is when your fingers begin to fly.
Something new is created.
Not out of thought,
But from the motion.
You are more like a dancer or painter at this stage.
There is no such thing as lying when you create.
Try this now.
Write a poem.
You don't have to know what it's about.
Just start writing.
And this week,
Practice honesty,
Observation,
And imagination.
And see what happens.
