Write to Change

Do you have a habit you'd like to change?  It could involve nail biting, procrastination or chronic worrying.  On the positive side, you may wish to develop a write habit and spend time with words.

Rather than pointing and shaking a finger at yourself, go for thumbs up.  You can do it!

Writing around, into and through thoughts and feelings about habits may assist you to discover ways to motivate change.

Freewrite to complete these sentences. Let them roll out in a flow to a finish. Respond again and probe for ideas until you run out of new endings before going on to the next one. If you become overwhelmed at any point, just stop and rest. Take several deep breaths. 

You may discover some discomfort in doing these exercises. Don't judge, write to the feelings.

1. Begin writing by feeling the urge to engage in your habit. Imagine a place or time in which you would usually do it. Get in touch with the urge deep within your body. Breathe into the feelings and write to finish the sentence, “I feel like a need to ___________ (name your habit or desire for a habit here) because…” Let the sentence unravel where it will.  Begin again. Keep writing until you can't think of new endings.

When you are finished, write down some of the sentences that had the most power.

2. Continue to explore the urge. Write, “If I never ___________ (name your habit or what you wish to turn into a positive habit) again…” Keep writing until you cannot think of endings.

When you are finished, write down some of the sentences that felt the strongest for you.

3. Let yourself feel the urge to engage in your habit and push the urge to its full intensity. Ask the urge why it needs you? How does it serve you? What is its job?  Then, name and dialogue with the Urge.

Spend some time with this experience before moving on.
Write down what you learn.

4. Imagine going through the day with the urge to engage in a positive habit. What does it feel like to want to accomplish it? How will it help you complete a goal?

Next, wonder what it would feel like not to have a negative urge and to feel confident you will never engage in your bad habit. Pay careful attention to anything that feels unwelcome about this reality. Spend some time with this experience before moving on. Write down what you learn.

By writing through the four questions you may discover aspects of your personality you have not tapped before.  Make friends with this part of you. Rather than trying to change it, accept it. Spend time writing about it each day.

Write to change.

The Meaning of Life

What is the meaning of life?  That was all - a simple question: one that tended to close in on one with years.  The great revelation had never come.  The great revelation perhaps never did come. Instead there were little daily miracles, illuminations, 

marches struck unexpectedly in the dark . . . - Virginia Woolf  

                                                               

Each day provides opportunities to become amazed.  Nature provides illuminations. 

Connections keep us amused.

If we stay aware and move beyond internal tension, there's much to discover from external teachings. 

Amazements exist around every corner.  Wonder discharges above us. 

Colors share a view.

Sounds combine for a symphony.







Take in the array of scents.
Pay attention to gather the mysteries.

Find amusements.   

                   Play in a grateful way. 

Moodle

Serotonin, the brain's feel-good chemical, interacts with receptors to spread happiness, satisfaction and relaxation. When we wrestle with shades of experience, we have the ability to move from intense moments then glide into realms of ease. At other times we just struggle, stuck in the middle of funk. The complexity of the human endocrine system toys with our balance.

All the advances in medicine and technology cannot provide a life of satisfaction. Individually, we access the center of wisdom in the brain and do what needs doing. We must engage with our highs, lows and middles by discovering ways to dislodge discomfort and energize the interactions in the brain for positive results.

With writing we have the ability to alter our moods or, at least, write about and through them.

Alter your attention and Moodle! 

Get several sheets of paper and a pen that flows across the page. Find a location where you can write undisturbed for an hour. Write your current mood across the top of the page. Begin writing and do not cross out or feel concern about the words. Get into a flow. Let one word drop, then another.

See where your mind takes you until the end of the page. Has your mood changed? Write the replacement mood across the top of the next page and begin again. Follow your moods for an hour.

Try writing with a variety of colors. To dislodge crankiness, use green. If tired, write with red or magenta. If restless, try blue for its tranquil qualities.

Moodle your noodle.