Without stopping to think.
Meditation Enhances Your Writing – And Your Life.
For years I’ve been a writer and for years, I have meditated. One practice truly enhances the other.
Clients who already meditate are receptive to adding writing to their meditation practice as a way to unload an active mind. It’s an easy exercise. One simply takes a notebook or journal with them to their place of meditation and downloads what’s on their mind before they begin. This settles the mind and deepens their practice. Afterward, they can either choose to read what they’ve written, or not. The gift is in the process.
Writers, on the other hand, find it more difficult to see the connection between writing and meditating as a way to initiate new ideas. Meditation is an acquired taste. Those who have taken on the challenge, report that the more they do it, the more benefits they discover.
Even if it’s a 10-minute–a-day practice, you’ll find that the nourishment from sitting quietly with the intention of quieting the busy-ness of mind will become increasingly valuable, bringing a fresh point of view to your craft.
Personally, I found that combining the two offers a richness of ideas and images. It also offers the side benefit and luxury of letting my mind and body relax, free from the hashing over or worrying about the past or planning the future.
It’s the relaxation that allows fresh ideas to arise from the depth of our imagination to bring forth a nuance to our creativity.
Here’s an easy way to get started~
- Sit comfortably in a space with the least amount of distraction. (After a while you learn to do this anywhere.)
- Set an intention to focus on your breath.
- Close your eyes and simply watch your breath as if you were a doctor watching a patient breathe.
NOTE: If you find yourself thinking, acknowledge that that’s what’s happening, and go back to your intention to focus on the breath. Remember, it’s a practice and the mind will naturally try to intercept. Don’t let that discourage you. Simply keep bringing your mind back to the breath. (You can do the same thing by focusing on a particular sound if the breath doesn’t work for you.)
If you think you don’t have the 10 minutes a day to sit quietly here’s what the Dali Lama has to say to you. “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. If you’re too busy, then you should sit for an hour.”
Do this exercise before you sit down to write. Give it at least 10 minutes. Then type or write away. In a week or so, evaluate your experience. What were the benefits? If any, what were the drawbacks? I’d love your feedback – mailto:[email protected].
Enjoy!