Discomfort can point to the right next step
Many people, including me, talk about writing as being in a flow state—staying fluid, like a stream or a river, rolling toward the sea. Also about being receptive, as in listening vs. thinking, and staying light and curious, like a butterfly flitting from one sweet stamen to another.
Being in a state of flow or in alert curiosity when writing is beautiful. Words fall easily onto the page, and ideas bubble. It’s a space that’s full and nourishing. The minutes meld into hours. The sparks of connections leave you tingly with possibilities.
And, the truth is, there are also times (sometimes many times or long periods of time) when you just aren’t there. This is, I think, true for anyone looking to write as a form of deep creative, self-expression. As a way of touching and expressing truth.
There may be times when you feel listless or even disinterested in your writing. It may feel staid or tired, like you’ve been standing around in an old elevator or the lobby of a post office.
And there may be periods when you’re uncomfortable with what you’re trying to do with your writing.
Maybe you're on the cusp of something new. A new topic or form or area of exploration. A big project that is whispering to you. Or perhaps you sense you're needing to step out and use your voice in a new way. Maybe you feel yourself being asked to become more visible with your writing.
This liminal space, this area where you sense you and your writing are about to transform can feel uncomfortable. It’s there in your body, like a too-small t-shirt. You can tug the shirt on. It still fits and doesn't bind you, but your movements feel somehow less free.
This is the point where we so often want to flee
Sometimes we run into the arms of distraction, which in and of itself is nothing to feel bad about. But when we keep choosing that versus what we know is our calling to write, we can slowly get stuck.
At other times, we run back into the patterns or busy-ness that feel so familiar. Promising ourselves we’ll time for writing after we finish this project or wrap up that. Writing once we get everything organized. Writing only when we feel inspired.
These patterns are what we grew up, or into, knowing; but on a deeper level, we can sense they’re not moving us toward what we're here to do.
Energy always moves
If you don’t flee, if you can stay with the discomfort, it will begin to shift.
Then, you can settle down and ask what is there for you to know. You can understand What is there for me to know, to do now?
There may be an action - small or big - that you're being called to take. If so, you'll hear it and you’ll see the path there is much easier than you thought.
Or there may not yet be anything to do. The mists surrounding this new way of being with writing may still be coming into focus. And the resting into that mysterious readying will feel best.
Either way, when you don’t run, you’re able to be with yourself. You’ll sense the signs and hear the call of your own knowing.
Even if you seem to be standing still, your heart will be turned in the right direction, toward what you’re being called to write. Toward that which gives you life.
What might happen if you stay with your writing even though you’re feeling uncomfortable?
Writing Invitation
I encourage you to open your notebook and answer this week's writing invitation with whatever wants to come through.
Photo used in writing invitation by Thomas Kinto on Unsplash
Online Writers' Studio for Women
If you’re interested in receiving more writing invitations and having a place to write on a more consistent basis, you can find a new one every day and the space to see where it takes you in my daily co-writing sessions, which are just one part of the Online Writers’ Studio for women. The Studio also has regular writing workshops, weekly intuitive energy readings, and meditative writing sessions.
Otherwise, come back next week, and I’ll share another one.