Most of the time I don't even know what I think until I write it down.  It's often through the act of writing that I can untangle my own thoughts & feelings to discover a gem or a nugget underneath it all.

Writing is more than just creating... 

it is a form of self-discovery. 

The depth of self-awareness & honesty required to write

yields incredible treasures.  

but demands a lot in return.  

(image: A comment from a women in my Women Writers Course)

Nearly five years ago I started a daily Writing Practice that has stuck with me to this day. I committed to the 12-weeks Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. Admittedly, there are a lot of activities in that process that I still have never gotten to, however one of the core practices really landed with me.

Morning pages is something she prescribes for all people interested in cultivating their own creativity.  I started and wrote everyday for a year. It has helped me as a writer, as a woman & as a human.  I recommend Morning Pages or a similar practice to all of my clients, members of my women's circle & the authors I work with.

Morning pages cheat-sheet:

• 3 hand-written pages
• stream of consciousness
• never meant to be read or shared (just a process)
• in a shitty cheap-o notebook, not some fancy pretty leather bound thing... that makes you feel that you should have important things to say... or even use your best handwriting)
• sloppy & fast.
• don't worry about spelling, grammar or even if it is legible, because you don't have to be able to read it.  
• burn or throw away the notebooks when you are done... 

I think of morning pages like poop:

That is not how we think our daily Writing Practice should be.

Morning Writing Practice is more of a decluttering, digesting & depositing practice than a creative process. Yet it is the fundamental precursor to my most effective, most rewarding, & most transformative creations.

We've lost touch with how busy, cluttered, frantic & distracted we all are.  To expect any kind of sanity, clarity or creativity to come through when we are doing a million things, bouncing from place to place, trying to keep track of everything & multitasking is asking too much of ourselves.

Common Blocks:

1. Scattered: Not sure what you have to say. Your mind is in a lot of places and when you try to sit down and write something (not morning pages, but like a blog or a book chapter) you can't get into the zone because your head is other places, or easily distracted with chores or unfinished conversations.  A daily writing practice clears the clutter so you can create.
2. Stretched-thin: you are doing too many things & not making the progress you want in any area* begin to feel bad or guilty about that... rather than being more selective. A daily writing practice supports you to sift and prioritize the various goals & responsibilities. 
3. I'll do it later: never-get-it-done-itise, is a common challenge. How many times have you said, "I'd love to write a book... some day." or "I'll get to it tomorrow."? A life of almost is a life of never.  A daily writing practice is a gentle way to ease into writing and preparing yourself that may not activate all the blocks & emotional triggers that get in the way. 

The daily Writing Practice, in my personal experience, is as much as a mindfulness practice /self-awareness Journey & honestly so much like a daily bowel movement (very necessary leaving me feeling lighter & healthier.)

Nothing that ever comes up in my morning pages becomes something that I publish or share the same way I don't take pictures of my poop & shared on social media.

My daily writing practice is me finding the calm center. It is declutter in my mind, my emotional sphere & my heart enough to witness who I am, what I'm feeling  & what I'm receiving.

Until I do my pages I don't know how uncomfortable or stressed or chaotic I am feeling. It is a tangible way for me to practice meaningful mindfulness... 

• Doing pages has taught me where I have been avoiding
• Doing pages has taught me to really observe my thoughts on a whole new level: i.e. Do I really think that? That is not true, why do I keep saying that to myself?
• Doing pages has taught me to be more gentle with myself when I am being harsh & more encouraging to myself when I am about to let me off easy. This helps me show up for what is important in my life. 
• Doing pages has taught me as much about myself as any other practice
• Doing pages has taught me has been a vital for me as a writer.   

As a result, then and only then, am I capable being receptive to the Muse to the inspiration receptive to The Whispers that passed through me that turn into writing the turn into little wisdom nuggets but I can share.

When I began this process, I thought a daily writing practice would be my productive time, the time where I created book after book, story after Story, article after article.  It is quite the opposite but even more vital.

Are you expecting yourself to be able to create and produce from a cluttered & Scattered busy place?

Try a daily mindfulness or daily Writing Practice for three days & let me know how you feel.

Warning: the very beginning is hard-- so, I especially want to hear from you if you think it is terrible. That means you are on to something.