Some of the Best Advice I've Ever Received
It was my seventh grade year and my English teacher assigned my first BIG essay. I had a vague idea where I wanted to go with it, but I was STUCK.
I didn’t know how to start, what to say, or how to spell most words. And I especially didn't know how to move past the paralysis. Then, a family friend shared some key advice that I've used ever since:
JUST START WRITING!
Write about not knowing what to write. Write about how much you don’t want to write. Write about your cuddling cat distracting you. 🐈
Either way, JUST START WRITING!
Then, somehow, slowly, sneakily, you’ll find yourself ready to tackle the work. While this concept could be applied to many areas of life, I'm going to stick to the topic at hand: WRITING.
I find when I talk to clients about writing I sometimes get push back. But, as a bona fide journaler since the 2nd grade, I often give myself push back too!
That’s because writing can be SCARY.
In addition to the aforementioned anxieties around not knowing where to start, what to say and how to spell, one specific thought that used to plague me was, if I write it down, then it’s true. 😱 And that same FEAR is the exact reason why I LOVE this tool so much today!
Writing aids in unearthing our inner landscape. It helps discover truths and brings clarity to muddled thoughts and emotions.
Countless times I've started writing, just to finish somewhere completely different. And with more understanding… or at least a better understanding of the confusion. 😵💫
Writing is like MAGIC in that way. Or one of those adventure books with multiple endings - you never know where you'll end up.
And perhaps most importantly, writing gets energy OUT.
We’re energetic creatures who process emotions and experiences by MOVING them OUT of the body. This is why we vent to friends, get massages, watch sad movies to induce a good cry, and want to shake it off after a long week.
A good writing session can be just as therapeutic, if not more, than any of those. Writing moves energy AND it shifts our thoughts and mood. It processes feelings, experiences AND helps make sense of the world,
inside and outside, of ourselves.
So, when was the last time you did a free write? When was the last time you had a blank sheet in front of you? Whether it’s on paper, the computer, or even your notes app, I encourage you to bring up a fresh page.
Place your pen or cursor down, and take the advice I was given long ago, and JUST START WRITING - even if you’re writing about how much you don’t want to write, that's ok, either way, you’ll be on the (w)right path. 💟
PS: Do you want to hear author & writing teacher Laura Davis talk more about writing as a tool for healing? Click here to listen to episode 30 of the Wholistic Approach to Healing Podcast.