Write Your Way to Presence

This simple writing meditation allows you to get present whenever you have a few free moments. 

Get a notebook (or a few sheets of paper and a pen), set a timer for 10-15 minutes, and let your thoughts flow on the page. Allow yourself to become present on the page simply by observing what's going on for you in this moment. Feel free to write whatever comes up or use these questions to help guide you. Be specific and tell the truth. You don't have to show this writing to anyone else.

How does your body feel?

• Is your neck tight?

• Are you shoulders shrugged?

• Is a small headache brewing?

• Are you sore from yoga class?

What’s on your mind?

• Are you thinking about the conversation you had recently with your sister/best friend/family acquaintance?

• Are you writing out your grocery list?

• Are you worried about work or something going on in your career?

• Do you wish others could read your mind instead of figuring out how to say what you mean?

How’s your spirit?

• Are you having fun and engaging in soul-fulfilling activities this week?

• Do you feel connected to the universe?

• Are you craving more synchronicity and magic?

• How have you expressed your soul desires recently?

Have the Courage to Write Your Shitty First Draft

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it.” 

~Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

I like to tell my clients that they just have to find an entry point into the story. You don’t have to know where it will lead, but you have to have the courage to set a timer and commit to writing for a little while. Twenty minutes always feels doable for me. Take a walk without an end destination. Let yourself be messy. Remember to love yourself up through the process. Forget every beautiful word you’ve ever read and allow your mind to wander through the Neverland of your own delight. Focus on that one image or story that you’d like to tell, and don’t worry about how you will get to the next one. Call in the human collective, when you need support. We are all trying to figure out this thing called life and know that all the flaws and typos and strange sentence structures can get worked out later. Give yourself permission to dance on that page to whatever song is flowing through you and don’t stop until the music pauses. 

Getting Started

Keeping a blog as a writer can be challenging, because I tend to prioritize gigs that pay versus writing for fun. I am so blessed to do what I love, but many times I get caught up in deadlines and forget to feel gratitude for my work or even just stop and enjoy it all.

Can you relate?

How often do we put off the things we love for all the "should's" or "supposed to's" in our life? 

Well, today is the day to get started. It doesn't have to be pretty or even remotely close to perfect. It's better just to put something on this digital paper. 

If you're just finding me for the first time, here are are few articles I've written about writing:

Stoned Crow Press: Write About Butter

Omega Institute: Coffeeshop Creativity

Omega Institute: Bring More Mindfulness to Your Writing

And because I love homework (yes, I'm a weirdo), here's a small assignment for you:

Start a small writing project today, even if it's just the first sentence. Set a timer for 10 minutes and allow yourself to daydream on the page. Write about something you feel super excited or passionate about. Or try complaining about something bugging you, like how you hate doing laundry, getting stuck in a crowded subway or the state of the world. Say it in a way that is unique to you. And if you like what you come up with, post it below.