Ready to Fill Your (writing) Well?
Recently, we talked a bit about nourishment and how important it is for writers. I even encouraged you to try a few activities that you find nourishing for the past two weeks. Did you? What were the results?
“But who has the time?” you may be asking.
Humans are a busy race, aren’t we? There’s always more that needs to be done, a never ending treadmill list of to-do’s and should-do’s and don’t-want-to-do’s. When faced with all of these, it’s easy to believe we don’t have time to write. Or to take care of ourselves.
But that simply isn’t true.
It may take effort on our part, but we can make the changes necessary to make sure that the great doesn’t suffer at the sake of the mediocre. And it doesn’t require running away to a week-long retreat at a Lake House or flying to the South of France for reprieve.
Before you delve into writing … rest.
I’m giving you permission today to take a break. Put your feet up. Rest on your laurels. Recharge your batteries.
I don’t know about you but I’m sick and tired of playing superhero when in reality, I’m just a regular old person, nagged by a critical voice and hounded by overly ambitious to-do list, struggling to live more mindfully and contentedly in a world where neither is glamorous.
Filling the Writing Well
… isn’t necessarily applauded. Don’t expect your family to cheer you on when you tell them that they will have to start making their own dinner once a week or putting away their own laundry. You aren’t likely to hear enthusiastic “hurrahs!” from volunteer boards that you step down from. The other moms at the school might not understand when you say that you can’t make all the meetings anymore, or that, no, you can’t bake another batch of cupcakes. It is someone else’s turn.
Expect resistance. And make filling your creative well a priority anyway.
Too scary? Take it in small steps.
In what ways could you free up 15 minutes a day to nurture your creative side? Note : I’m still not encouraging you to write at this point. Fill first, then pour out your bucket later. Could you stop watching the news? Give up that Hollywood housewives show or pare down other fruitless pursuits like trying (and failing) to be Supermom/Superdad + Superemployee + Supervolunteer +/or Superfriend?
And instead allowing yourself to do the best with the time/energy available to you while making nurturing yourself a priority.
If you haven’t yet read The Artist’s Way , by Julia Cameron, please make time to do so. Hey! You can fit that into your 15 minutes of quiet nurturing. For a faith-based book in the same vein that is equally well-written, check out The Creative Call by Janice Elsheimer. Both of these books will fill you with hope that you can make not only your writing, but yourself a priority. Guilt-free.
Still not sure? What do you believe stands in your way? Post your challenges here—maybe one of us can help you.
“But who has the time?” you may be asking.Humans are a busy race, aren’t we? There’s always more that needs to be done, a never ending treadmill list of to-do’s and should-do’s and don’t-want-to-do’s. When faced with all of these, it’s easy to believe we don’t have time to write. Or to take care of ourselves.
But that simply isn’t true.
It may take effort on our part, but we can make the changes necessary to make sure that the great doesn’t suffer at the sake of the mediocre. And it doesn’t require running away to a week-long retreat at a Lake House or flying to the South of France for reprieve.
Before you delve into writing … rest.
I’m giving you permission today to take a break. Put your feet up. Rest on your laurels. Recharge your batteries.
I don’t know about you but I’m sick and tired of playing superhero when in reality, I’m just a regular old person, nagged by a critical voice and hounded by overly ambitious to-do list, struggling to live more mindfully and contentedly in a world where neither is glamorous.
Filling the Writing Well
… isn’t necessarily applauded. Don’t expect your family to cheer you on when you tell them that they will have to start making their own dinner once a week or putting away their own laundry. You aren’t likely to hear enthusiastic “hurrahs!” from volunteer boards that you step down from. The other moms at the school might not understand when you say that you can’t make all the meetings anymore, or that, no, you can’t bake another batch of cupcakes. It is someone else’s turn.
Expect resistance. And make filling your creative well a priority anyway.
Too scary? Take it in small steps.
In what ways could you free up 15 minutes a day to nurture your creative side? Note : I’m still not encouraging you to write at this point. Fill first, then pour out your bucket later. Could you stop watching the news? Give up that Hollywood housewives show or pare down other fruitless pursuits like trying (and failing) to be Supermom/Superdad + Superemployee + Supervolunteer +/or Superfriend?
And instead allowing yourself to do the best with the time/energy available to you while making nurturing yourself a priority.
If you haven’t yet read The Artist’s Way , by Julia Cameron, please make time to do so. Hey! You can fit that into your 15 minutes of quiet nurturing. For a faith-based book in the same vein that is equally well-written, check out The Creative Call by Janice Elsheimer. Both of these books will fill you with hope that you can make not only your writing, but yourself a priority. Guilt-free.
Still not sure? What do you believe stands in your way? Post your challenges here—maybe one of us can help you.
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