One day, while I was running and listening to a podcast, I heard a woman talk about writing and how something called Morning Pages opened a new world to her. She went on to describe how Morning Pages are a daily writing practice and the brainchild of Julia Cameron.What you do is write as soon as you get up when you haven’t dropped into your to-do list brain yet. This writing is a pure flow of whatever arises right then. There are no rules and there is no point. You write longhand for three pages and it can be complete nonsense, fragmented, cranky, complaining incomplete sentences. You can even write “I have nothing to say” over and over. The only goal is to fill three pages with your hand and a pen and paper.
Then you throw them in the garbage.
Julie Cameron writes:
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*– they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not overthink Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page…and then do three more pages tomorrow.
I gave myself a challenge to write these three pages every morning for 21 days. It was stiff and awkward. I judged my words every day with gentle reminders that constantly telling myself I’m not good enough didn’t just show up when I write. What was happening every morning was a little mirror into my internal dialogue about anything I struggle with and it wasn’t pretty and certainly wasn’t the self-love I deserve.
The act of throwing the pages in the trash was pivotal for me. Some of you tell me you don’t journal because you’re afraid someone will read it. Part of this writing technique is you throw your words away. No one will ever see them. This is a practice, you’re not publishing a book.
When I finished my 21 days, I was off to the journaling races. It was the little spark I needed to burn down the wall between me and my creativity and I kept working on my inner critic.
Since then, journaling has brought me focus and clarity. It’s the path that brings my vision to life and without it so much would stay locked inside me forever.
When I don’t have the courage to create, I can be brave enough to write and then tenacity starts to take shape.
Ultimately, it’s my daily vehicle to learn what’s important.
I encourage you to try it. Pick a timeframe where you’ll write three pages of babble every morning and sometimes it may even make sense.
Because while the tools are the paper and pen, the mission is overcoming the voices within.
