Last Monday, I felt myself shrink.
Earlier that morning, I’d taken a class on awakening. As I prepared my breakfast, I engaged in a gloriously expansive conversation with myself about my new book project and a course I plan to offer.
Then I scanned the news headlines.
My energy immediately contracted into a tiny ball of fear-laced rage that urgently wanted me to do something to make it all go away. The problems felt so insurmountable that I had no clue how to respond.
At the beginning of the month, I wrote about the importance of holding the line in times of turmoil and keeping your creative channel open. It’s the key to reclaiming your power while life makes you feel small.
Within days of writing this, I felt called to offer the first of what will be multiple writing community support sessions for paid newsletter subscribers so we can weather this situation together.
The first session occurred last Wednesday, February 19th—two days after I felt that powerful contraction. I decided to talk about that experience as a setup for a discussion around responding versus reacting to what we encounter.
Reactions are the automatic, instinctive thoughts and behaviors that arise from external or internal stimuli. While reactions can be helpful—like scratching an itch or grabbing a handful of nuts when hungry—unhelpful reactions are triggered by our fears. Continually reacting to what life brings us wears us out.
Responses are thoughtful and intentional. Whether they’re quiet or fierce and loud; they always originate from a powerful, centered place inside you.
My goal for last Wednesday’s session was to help writers engage in some joyful, playful writing exercises designed to replenish our reserves, so we can spend more time responding and less time reacting to the world around us—which is no small feat during times of turbulence that heighten our emotions.
Some reactions are easy to spot, like my reaction to the news, but others catch us off guard. For instance, I almost blurted out “no,” a few months ago when a dear writing friend suggested I compress a flashback in a works-in-progress from a few pages to a few paragraphs.
Adult me knew this was sound writing advice, but my inner child saw this as an attack on “my truth.” It screamed, “no, no, no” and stomped its feet, unwilling to cut even one word.
I learned long ago that the only way to quiet this voice is to listen to it. I grabbed my journal and asked myself: What do you need right now?
As I wrote, my inner child revealed that she needed to see the problem and the solution before considering the suggested changes.
So, I crafted a strategy I’ll teach next Wednesday, March 5th, during Memoir Backstory.
Seeing the problem reduced her resistance, which allowed me to thoughtfully respond to my friend’s feedback.
These shifts in perspective can be magical, especially when fun and play are part of the process. As I mentioned during last Wednesday’s community support session, the more you fill your cup, the stronger your foundation will be, and the more energy you’ll have to respond both on and off the page.
After our session, one writer shared that the exercises we completed “opened a portal that, until that day, had been closed to her.” Another writer said it “helped her reclaim her power.”
As we prepare for what March’s winds might bring, work on reclaiming your power by noting your reactions and their impact on you.
Here are a few questions to help you understand when and how you’re responding versus reacting:
- What does it feel like to react?
- What does it feel like to respond?
- How can writing help me fill my cup and reclaim my power?
- What else do I need right now?
May your answers help you build a strong, centered foundation that helps you write on.
Warmly,
Lisa
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