Find Inspiration From Other People's Words
I hear from a lot of you that you aren't sure what your story is. "I don't have a story worth telling" or "Nothing really significant/bad/traumatic has happened to me" are common refrains. I will always believe that each of us has a story (and at least 100 of them) to tell. My goal here is to make accessing your stories easier for you so that you can get out of your own way and start down the path of healing through writing.
One idea for accessing your own stories is to find a quote that you love. Start with an artist you adore. This can be a singer, songwriter, poet, author, talk show host, podcaster, actor, etc etc. One of mine is Morgan Harper Nichols. Every single word she authors strikes my core in the best of ways. She is the person who created the art you see above.
When I read Morgan's words, it feels like she created them solely for me. Her practice does involve people writing to her about their story; from there she creates a piece of art based on what was sent in. For every piece she creates then, she is speaking to one real live human person.
Pull out of piece of paper and pen. Now read Morgan's words (above) slowly and with concentration. What does it make you think of in your own life? Who does it make you think of? How does it make you feel?
Not feeling it with this quote? No worries. Go find your person (online, in a book, in the bible, in a cd case) and look for a quote that stirs something in you.
Here’s what I wrote after I set 5 minutes on the timer:
What does giving myself grace actually look like though?
- Grace looks like getting up in the middle of a presentation at a big conference and quietly heading to your hotel room to lay down for 15 minutes because you are so drained and have been going non-stop for three days.
- Grace is when you normally call your mom on your commute home from work, but today you just need a break and decide that not making the call is ok.
- Grace is asking a mom friend for carpool help when you could possibly, maybe get the kids to where they need to be, but it would be so much easier and less stressful to have someone help.
- Grace is letting the dishes sit in the sink for another couple hours and not beating yourself up about it.
- Grace is going for the walk when you get home even though you haven't seen the kids all day and you want to spend time with them, but you know you will be a better person if you get your 25 minutes outside.