The Personal Nature of Writing
Posted by Moses on Oct 27, 2008
Writing is a very personal activity. When you write you are opening yourself up to others. Yes, writing is an art. But it’s more than just art, it’s about what’s in between your ears and in your chest. It’s your perception of the world written for all to see and share. The very nature of writing intimidates and overwhelms many people. To often people are concerned with being rejected or having enough ability. So instead of enriching the world with a new take on our every changing world and possibly enriching the life of someone else, they procrastinate and deny the world their voice.
Not only is the world denied, but they too lose something very valuable. I’m not sure how to describe it. Writing is about creating. There is a rush and power that comes from creating. I’m sure that it must be true for other artists like painters and sculptors. To take a blank canvas, stone or page (screen) and to shape it or fill it with your own views is heady stuff. Now that I think about it, I’m sure that craftsman and others that work with their hands in some productive way must experience the same feeling.
I think that the act of creating requires you to involve your soul in your actions. I mean that the activity, whether it’s writing, painting, gardening, etc. touches the core of your being. At least this has been my experience.
I have found that when I write, particularly for this blog, but in general as well, that afterward I have a sense of calmness and relaxation that is hard to recreate with other means (e.g. working out). It’s this sense of euphoria that is so amazing. I used to run competitively when I was younger and often I would experience the infamous runner’s high”, which occurred after a tough run (usually referred to as a good run). Although, I would be exhausted, I felt like I could run forever.
Writing is similar. When I’m writing, I often think much faster than I type, so even with my hands flying over the keyboard, I still miss words in some sentences because my hands can’t keep up with the speed of my thoughts. I’ll be so charged that I won’t be able to contain my excitement. Definitely, a danger if I get on a roll too late in the evening. As I am doing now 
I think that any activity the allows your to express yourself in a way that engages the complete you (e.g head, heart and soul) in a genuine way becomes very personal. I believe that the arts (e.g writing, painting, sculpting etc) fit this model, I’m not sure about the performing arts. I wonder if the act of performing because of the immediate feedback from the audience doesn’t spark a different, but perhaps similar feeling.
I’m sure that other activities such as tweaking or tuning machines, gardening etc are close enough in result to creating that you would obtain a similar sense of relaxation and euphoria.
Back to the title of the article. Writing is a personal activity. When writing is about creating something that you care about the work become spiritual. It becomes an extension of you. So go write, create put yourself out there in a meaningful way, I guarantee you’ll be better for it.
Tags: creation, personal, writing
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4 Steps to Overcome Fear and Anxiety
Posted by Moses on Oct 23, 2008
I’ve written a lot about fear. Overcoming fear is a central theme of this blog. Like many people at different times in my life I have been overwhelmed by fear and the anxiety that it triggered. Anxiety can rob you of your motivation and cause you to turn away from the people who care about you. This leaves you with a sensoe loneliness that is hard to describe. As I am sure many of you are doing, I’ve been reading a great deal about the current economic climate and the long term aftershocks we will likely have to endure. I certainly have a sense of foreboding about the current situation and I can easily see where someone who is facing a tougher economic situation could be consumed by their fear and anxiety. It’s not hard to imagine someone with an upside down mortgage and other financial obligations face the daunting challenge of maintaining their faith that there will be brighter days in the future.
And yet deep inside of each of us, we know that it will be better no matter how hard it gets. This is especially true if you have been through some hard times before and came out better in the end. The trick is holding onto that thought as you are dealing with your current situation. It’s hard. Sometimes we make it even harder by beating ourselves up over those times when we do lose faith, however momentarily.
The first thing to remember is that however you are feeling it is OK. You have every right to feel whatever you feel. I know that this goes against the current “PC culture”, but how can it be healthy if you deny yourself the right to feel particular emotions even if they are negative. You need to experience the full range of emotions, it is a God given right. So yes, if you are angry, sad or feel hateful towards someone else or perhaps and entire group of people, feel free to experience those emotions. Of course the next step is to choose what to do with those feelings. This is where God’s gift of free will is so very precious. You see animals have emotions and instinct like us, but only we have the capability to embrace our emotions and take control of them, choosing our own path rather than the path our emotions would lead us down.
So the next time fear and anxiety have taken hold of your heart follow these simple steps:
- Remember that your creator has given you the power to overcome your emotions
- Remember the it will get better — Try to think of specific time when you had lost faith and your life got better in spite of your lack of faith
- Confirm your faith
- Choose what you will do next — This is often the hardest step, but making choices for your life gives you control of your circumstances particularly if you let your faith guide you
I know that in the next several years we will all face challenges that we didn’t expect to have to overcome, but regardless of our challenges or circumstances we have everything we need to rise above them.
Tags: anxiety, faith, fear, making choices
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