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Hi there, how are you doing today? I hope you’re showing yourself some love. ❤
This post is mostly about writing, but feel free to take it and apply it to other aspects of your life. Painting. Working out. A new job. Putting yourself out there.
Do you ever struggle to start writing? You have things you want to say, but when you open up the document, you have no idea how to string the words together?
I feel this all the time.
Some might call it writer’s block. I’m not sure how severe it has to be in order to be classified that way… but there’s definitely a mental block, and it prevents me from writing.
I used to look up little tricks.
“How to write.”
“Mistakes to avoid as a new writer.”
“How to overcome writer’s block.”
I would get lost in this trail of articles telling what to do and what not to do. What to avoid. What I have to do if I want to be a good writer…
But the thing is, I was researching this stuff for so long, I think I might have just been procrastinating.
I mean, how much research can you really do before you realize…
That information is only helpful if you’re writing.
I’ve tried so many different things just to get myself to write.
But there’s really nothing that you can substitute for that feeling you get when you’re in the zone.
Your fingers are typing faster than your mind seems to be working, and the words just flow out. You watch it happen and can’t believe all of this is coming from you.
Where did this inspiration come from?
Well, let’s just say, if you’ve done it before, you can do it again.
But do you know what the difference is between when you felt those words flying onto the page, and now?
You were writing.
So how do you get there again?
Well… you just start.
Seems too easy to work.
“You can’t just switch it on…”
But you totally can!
It’s actually really rare that I feel like writing, and yet I write almost every day.
How do I do this? By forcing myself to start.
I sit down in front of the keyboard. I put my phone away (I know, scary). I have an idea in my mind of a goal for that day.
500 words.
1 blog post.
A sentence.
Whatever I need to just sit down and get words on the page.
And I find that once I start, after a bit, the words just flow.
It’s a little rocky at first. I’ll probably have to go back and do some editing.
But it’s a whole lot easier to edit the writing you have done, than to put words on a blank page.
It’s not about being perfect, it’s just about doing it.
Think about it this way…
You’ve always said you need to work out more. So one day you finally just do it. Even at the idea of working out, you’re tired to the bone. But you put your tennis shoes on, you change into some cute workout gear. And you Just. Do. It.
I guess Nike had a point…
And once you start working out, it’s not that hard to do a few things and call it good. Maybe you lift some weights. Maybe you do some running. Maybe you’re more into squats. I don’t know, it’s your body. Whatever feels right.
But the point is, what was the hardest part: the work out, or getting the clothes on, going to the gym, and deciding to start?
Starting, right?
Yeah, me too. That’s why when I say I force myself, I really mean it.
The toddler in my brain is kicking and screaming. So I tell her, “If you do this, you can have a special treat when you’re done. You like goldfish right? Yeah you do. So get in there, you got this!”
Er… you know… broccoli. Because I’m an adult ‘n stuff. I don’t eat goldfish… 👀
So, today, I challenge you.
I challenge you to sit down and start writing.
Or painting. Or working out. Or applying for new jobs. Or going on a date. Whatever.
I don’t care if it’s good. I don’t care if it never sees the light of day.
I don’t care if all you do is a paragraph. A couple sentences.
Because once you know you can start, it will be that much easier to do it again tomorrow.
So get to it.
Sending love,
MK
MK Laurren 