Journaling ~ Writing Prompt Ideas
Write A Way: Journey to Creativity
By Sandra Lee Schubert
Beating Resistance: The Fulfilled Life, Create it Now!
Resistance sits on your shoulder not like a dear friend but a vengeful inner
critic. What are your unlived dreams? Why aren't you pursuing them right now?
Writing is the one thing that I always wanted to do. Yet, as I get closer to
writing the tougher it is for me just to sit down. I am reminded of those
nightmares where you are running towards something but the harder you run the
further away it gets. In September, I wrote of my bad habits; how
procrastination would have me doing anything else but what I want to do. I will
happily or mindlessly watch TV. Do laundry. Eat. Nap. I will feel myself
pulled towards the computer or the pen and still switch the channel to see what
else is on. What is going on here?
"Everyone has a purpose in life. Perhaps yours is watching
television."
~ David Letterman US comedian & television host (1947 -)
Hmmm.... Could David Letterman be right? Am I reprieved? No. I am not and
neither are you. Have you been reading these columns,
taking a course,
bought that book and still do nothing but let your dreams stagnate in some dirty
pool in the back of your mind?
"Resistance is futile" or so said the Borg in the Star Trek:
The Next Generation series. Now Jean Luc the captain of the starship
may have been right in resisting the Borg's intent to assimilate every species
and create a universe of drones. Resistance then makes good common sense. Our
goal here is to overcome the resistance that limits us and become who we were
meant to be. Accept nothing less.
What is Resistance?
In Steven Pressfield book,
The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles,
he says, "Many of us have two lives. The one we live, and the unlived life
within us. Between the two stands Resistance." He goes on to outline the
characteristics of resistance and explain how it manifests in our lives. He is
more then hopeful that we can break its back.
We know the pain of giving into resistance. Each year we make goals only to
forget them in week or months time. Gym shoes are unused. The ideas stay on the
paper. We go to work and always wish for something else. I have talked about
resistance in its different forms in these columns. It is the monster that keeps
us from our full potential.
"Do something. If it doesn't work, do something else. No idea is too
crazy."
~ Jim Hightower, The New York Times, March 9, 1986
Steps to beating resistance and living a fulfilled life:
Wake up.
Write.
There it is in a nutshell. If it's not writing - then create art, start a new
business,
get married.
Overcoming a bad habit or resistance means stomping it to the ground, turning
off the inner critic and resolutely deciding you have something better to do
with your life.
"Women who live the life of their dreams don't get there by being dainty
and darling. They demand what they want and do what it takes to make it happen.
[That] could mean breaking a few rules, a few hearts and a few habits along the
way, especially the habit of apologizing for who you are."
~ Laurie Sue Brockway from
A Goddess Is A Girl's Best Friend
Let's Make A Deal
I have a proposition for the coming year. Let's make a deal with each other. Put
our dreams on the table and agree to begin to fulfill them. Each day, take one
step closer towards that dream. If you want to write - then write. It is fairly
inexpensive endeavor. A 99-cent notebook and a ballpoint pen will get you
started. Want to create art? Borrow the art supplies of any eight-year-old and
make art. Want to have a healthful lifestyle? Start walking. Eat one extra
veggie a week. Get the idea?
Writing Prompt Ideas:
- Visualize: Image what your life will look like with dreams fulfilled. How do
you look? How do you feel? Visualizing helps draw the desired result closer to
you.
- Write the story of your goal fulfilled. Is it a review of the
book/movie/play you finally wrote? Put lots of detail in there. Describe picking
up your award. What are you wearing? Who do you thank? How does it feel?
- List your creative goals/dreams. Write all of them even the unbelievable
ones. Be outlandish and wildly outrageous. Writing down your goals brings them
into reality and closer to fruition. Dare to be bigger then you are today.
- Create an image of your fulfilled dream(s). Draw it. Or create a collage of
images cut out of magazines or the paper. What does it look like? Create the
cover of your completed book or your byline in a newspaper.
- Meditate. Spend time each day in quiet reflection. You will feel rejuvenated
and ready to be even more creative.
- Gratitude: Each day appreciate what you have. Acknowledge all the gifts of
your life. Be thankful and willing to have more goodness in your life. Remember
having abundance in your life allows you to be even more generous with those who
have less. The more you give the more you get.
Finally, we aren't meant to be mere shadows on the earth. We are meant to grow
and thrive and be creative beings. Let's support each other and encourage people
in our lives to celebrate their best selves. Each of us is indeed a gift. Enjoy.
I leave you with this prayer. I don't know the original origin but it has been
valuable to me.
May I be at peace,
may my heart be open,
may I waken to the light of my true nature,
may I be healed,
may I be source of healing for all beings.
Sandra Schubert is the creator and instructor for the Self-Healing Expressions
e-course
Writing for Life: Creating a Story of Your Own.
To learn more about Sandra and her course, click here:
Copyright © 2004 Sandra Lee Schubert. All rights reserved. If you are interested
in publishing this article, please email
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