I just finished reading The Artist’s Way and completed the accompanying Morning Pages Journal. Every day, first thing in the morning, I wrote three pages longhand, of whatever was on my mind and/or whatever The Artist’s Way prompted me to write about.
To be honest, I didn’t know what The Artist’s Way was about when I purchased it. The purpose of Julia Cameron’s work is to help artist’s get unstuck. If I had known this, I probably wouldn’t have bought it. Sometimes ignorance is bliss!
I didn’t consider myself an artist, and I didn’t think I needed to get unstuck. However, doing The Artist’s Way got me writing on Substack a lot more. So that’s been good1. Writing is one of my favorite outlets, whether it’s private (in my journals) or public (on blogs or Substack).
Private Writing
I have written in a journal since I became a Christian in college. I started with a single-subject, spiral bound notebook, in which I would jot notes of what I was reading in the Bible that day. I shifted a few years later into using composition books, in which I would also include things I pray for.
I number and date each journal/notebook on the cover, to help me keep them in order. I am up to somewhere north of my 80th journal.2
On mornings when I feel most overwhelmed, I often start with writing all of the things on my mind. Sometimes, that bullet-point list takes up an entire page. It clears my heart and mind to get it all out on paper.
One tool / framework3 that I recently came across has helped me with my getting my thoughts and feelings out, so that I can process my days better. Each day, I’ve been listing:
5 Gratitudes4
Plans for the day
Fears and Resentments
Things to watch for
Things to strive for
Maybe it’s something you would like to try, too?
Public Writing
Technically, this Substack is my sixth blog. Each one of these had a season, and had new lessons for me.
Grace Church Children’s Ministry. This came at the
encouragementinsistence of some friends, as an outflow of a parenting conference we held, starting with a online book discussion of my favorite parenting book.A Different Way. I started this blog as I was transitioning out of my job as a children’s pastor, primarily to continue to discuss parenting and ministry.
Mission Allendale. I broke off from A Different Way to share about our experiences and growth as we lived on mission in a different part of our state. It was a great way to update and share with family, friends, and supports.
Justice Kindness Humility. Another ministry-related blog, but for after our time in Allendale (SC). Focused on things close to my heart and job, like justice and community development.
Medium. I wrote sporadically — 20 posts over 6.5 years. Just a dumping ground for my brain.
So, I write for my own mental health and for own growth. Writing forces me to examine and process and organize my thoughts.
But I also appreciate you reading, and my prayer is that you occasionally read something that challenges or encourages or helps you in some way.
Thank you for reading!
“The act of making art is inherently generous.” ~ Amie McNee (on TEDx Manchester)
I hope you’ll agree.
And yes, I have them all in storage bins, much to my wife’s chagrin.
I can’t find where I personally saw this, but apparently it comes from Andrew Huberman: https://averagejoesgym.co.nz/blogs/joe-blogs/the-huberman-am-habit-level-up-in-3-5-minutes-a-day
On good days, there are six. Or seven!