Are you sometimes left wondering what to do in any given moment?
Through my own experience over the course of my lifetime, as well as from teaching hundreds of folk how to free themselves by putting pen to paper, fingers to keyboard — including published authors, journalists and other professional writers, as well as all sorts of creative individuals from all walks of life — I’ve learned that at such times writing is always the answer.
As with any such generalization, there are, of course, exceptions to the rule.
If you know your present task at hand is exactly what you should be doing in this moment, you should likely continue doing that very thing. But even during such times when you’re in the flow, it’s oftentimes incredibly helpful to take the time to reflect upon what’s been occupying your day-to-day. This helps us to take stock, to make sure we’re on the right track, that we haven’t inadvertently veered off onto a trajectory which has come about in a perhaps semi-conscious manner as we’ve been caught up in the muck and mire of life.
But often we don’t know exactly what we should be doing.
There are times in which we might be unsure where to go from here, what’s to be done. Perhaps we’re seized with fear or overwhelm — two common, even ubiquitous, feelings that often visit entrepreneurs and other creative folk who tend not to have their daily routine dictated from above, who, instead, must choose what they should be doing that day, that week, or that very moment.
Or, we might feel the need to clarify our thoughts, to re-inspire ourselves, or to find fresh reserves of energy within that might be obstructed by day-to-day concerns.
At times like these, the suggestion is so simple, yet so incredibly powerful …
Simply put that aforementioned pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and just let the words fly unbidden and without concern about whether the writing is good, bad or otherwise.
The point is not to make art — though there’s no better way to embark upon the creative process than by following through with this suggestion on a regular, ideally daily, basis. Rather, the point is simply let your thoughts flow onto the page, onto the screen, as a means to help clear your mind, to take refuge in the simple act of reflecting, of letting go.
Writing like this is akin to a spring cleaning of the mind, of the spirit, of the soul.
And I can assure you that if you continue with this practice — without setting up any expectations, whatsoever, for yourself, simply to write regularly, to let the words come fast through you and onto the page — you’ll experience joy and clarity, and, thereby, feel great stores of relief, of inspiration, of intimacy with your innermost being as well as with the world around you.
A world-changing act which I refer to as witnessing the world within and without.
So no matter what else you might be doing, or not doing — whether things are going beautifully or are seemingly failing all around you, or whether you’re experiencing a personal high, or a personal low — writing is always the answer.
By way of this simple writing practice, you’ll:
- ground yourself, bringing your attention to those aspects of your life that matter most;
- clarify or otherwise process your thoughts and experiences;
- learn new things about yourself and the world around you;
- generate new ideas for writing, for your business or career, or for your life, generally;
- and, if you decide to publish any such thoughts — importantly, this decision should be entirely separate from the act of writing, first and foremost, for yourself — you’ll no doubt connect up with new friends who will appreciate what you have to say, perhaps even while challenging or otherwise inspiring you to new heights or new considerations; and, finally,
- if you write and publish regularly, you’ll, all the while, be building your tribe of loyal follower-reader-customers. And tribe building, like writing itself, is always the answer.
So next time you’re wondering what to do, sit yourself down, with no expectations, and simply write, quickly and without concern. And let us know, below, what this simple act does for you.
Do you write regularly, or have you been wanting to embark upon a writing practice? What have you learned? What inspires you to keep going? Share your thoughts below, and let’s continue to learn from one another.