The Hero’s Journey involves the whole life transformation of the inner world, body, heart, mind, and soul. As I embark on this writing journey, I am considering what it means to involve and integrate each of these areas.
When we connect to ourselves, we connect more deeply to one another, which connects us more fully to the reality that connects us all, God.
Awareness of Physical Sensations
I was processing some of my writing hangups with a fellow creative, and she encouraged me to take a 20 second time out when I feel like I am in the flow with my writing to notice what the experience feels like.
When I am in the zone, I feel excited about how the thoughts and words fall together. It comes with a stuffed feeling of satisfaction. In these moments, I am no longer agitated, hurried, or entertaining distractions.
Another piece of physical awareness I have noticed recently is that I tend to shrug my shoulders way uptight when I type. When I notice this, I have to consciously relax my shoulders and allow it to free up my neck and head.
Welcoming the sensations we experience is the first step; finding the words and expressing what I am feeling comes next.
Expressing From The Heart
For us to be able to convey meaning, it takes more than describing the details of an event, and we must express it from the heart. As I am writing, certain emotions will bubble up, maybe sadness or fear or tenderness.
How many emotions do I feel right now? Can I identify the feelings and name them? Or do I just feel numb? What does this feeling remind you of, or when else have you felt this way?
Once we accept the emotions for what they are, we can connect them to our life events and form the broader context of why we feel this way.
Clarity of Thinking
When the ideas don’t seem to fire, and you can’t seem to get the words into a sentence, remember that digital paper and ink is free. Hit the enter button and start a new line. Don’t delete the old sentence.
Just try to phrase it in a new way. To be able to see it in a new way, try a different perspective. Maybe even try to write the opposite position to what you are trying to describe.
When your thinking seems foggy, the best thing to do is to keep writing. Once the ink is flowing, the illumination will come.
Get the things you are thinking out of your head and on to the page. Finding the words and forming the sentences will hone and clarify your thinking. Thoughts are no help to anyone if they are still in your head. Why be a hoarder of ideas? It will only cloud your thinking.
Words are How We Connect
Our soul gives us a connection to something beyond ourselves, a connection to other people, a connection to something bigger than ourselves, a connection to God, the reality that connects us all.
When we notice when we receive something meaningful, a loved one has expressed to us. It resonates with our soul. Have you been able to catch when something you have said resonates with another?
A more profound sense of meaning and belonging is transferred by what we express. Words come with power, either to cut down or build up and hurt or encourage and bring life.
It depends on the condition of our heart that flows out of it. It makes sense to tend to the state of your heart. Not just for your own sake but the sake of us all.
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