On the days I don’t do my morning pages, I am not as centered, focused, clear. On the days I don’t do my morning pages, I miss the physical practice. On the days I don’t do my morning pages, something feels off, and when I remember and then complete them, I know that I’ve honored a practice that contributes to my continued productivity, creativity and well-being. For me, and for many, morning pages are a tool for clarity and focus. This practice supports the build and has changed my life.
I was first introduced to this idea over a year ago when I read The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I was meant to read this book – I’d heard about it on the podcasts by Tim Ferriss (The Tim Ferriss Show) and Brian Koppelman (The Moment, Billions) and it kept coming up in conversations from friends and colleagues. (I love you Julia Cameron!)
So, what are morning pages?
Morning pages are simply this: Three pages of daily handwritten pages (yes, pen on paper) that capture the stream of consciousness thoughts we all carry with us. Cameron believes that all this junk we carry in our head stands in the way of our creativity; by getting it on the page, first thing in the morning, we can put these thoughts away and concentrate on the things that are important to us.
Why three pages? Cameron has found that often it takes about a page and a half of miscellany to get to the point of breakthrough and really get to work on what is important to us. The worries, concerns, tasks, distractions – by writing all this down, we can clear away to essence of what we most want to work on.
“Most of the time, when we are blocked in an area of our life, it is because we feel safer that way. The toolkit lends practitioners a sense of safety. As they learn to take small risks in their morning pages, they are led to larger risks. A step at a time, they emerge as artists.”
Julia Cameron
And, while this book was designed for artists and creators, this practice can work for everyone that is in the process of focusing on the build in any area of life.
30 Minutes
You are not alone if right now you are thinking, “Really? Handwriting three pages every morning? Not happening.”
As it is, many of us feel over-committed with obligations. We have lunches to prepare, commutes to navigate, kids to get to school, work to accomplish, and it might seem frivolous to write down the petty BS that runs through our minds – the inner critic, the irritations, the concerns with work or health.
But: gaining clarity is not frivolous.
We may state that we don’t have time for this, but in reality, we have some agency over how we spend our time – at least in some parts of the day. If we deem it important and create the space, it is possible to carve out 30-45 minutes most days.
Cameron again:
“When people ask, “Why do we write morning pages?” I joke, “To get to the other side.” They think I am kidding, but I’m not. Morning pages do get us to the other side: the other side of our fear, of our negativity, of our moods. Above all, they get us beyond our Censor. Beyond the reach of the Censor’s babble we find our own quiet center, the place where we hear the still, small voice that is at once our creator’s and our own.”
When you can get to this voice, you can start working on what is really important, significant, fulfilling. But until you can cut through the noise of daily living, real progress can be slowly incremental.
What’s In It for You? (WIIFY?)
Here are some of the benefits I’ve experienced in incorporating this practice on most days. (We are human, after all.)
- Relief from nagging thoughts
- Improved decision making
- Resolution of inner questions, problem-solving
- Increased energy
- Confidence and trust in self and voice
- Well-being
- Attention to inner state
- Improved focus and clarity
At the Workbench
I share Cameron’s belief that we are all creative in various ways. Even if you are not making a living in a creative field, the morning pages can help get you unlock clarity and focus. Is there some area in which you want to grow? Morning pages can help. In my own experience, I’ve been able to gain clarity on parenting and relationship issues, career and job concerns and growing in my own creative endeavors. I try to write most days and give myself grace on the days I don’t.
Beginning the Practice | Some Guidelines
- Get a good pen that writes the way you like it & paper you like writing on. It can be a spiral notebook, legal pad – anything that works for you. There is no wrong way to do your morning pages (except not doing them!)
- Consistent practice yields the best results. We often have to work through recurring questions and challenges over the course of days, weeks and months to gain the clarity needed to achieve our dreams and goals.
- Don’t edit or listen to your internal critic. Just keep writing.
- It is recommended, at least in the beginning, that you don’t re-read what you’ve written.
- You may hate every minute of this at first. That’s ok. Just keep your hand moving.
- Let yourself take risks on the page. By allowing your voice to emerge, you normalize the process of evaluating ideas and discerning the areas in which you want to grow.
Sending love and light!
Resources:
- Get the book! The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
- For an interview between Brian Koppleman and Julia Cameron: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-moment-with-brian-koppelman/episode/julia-cameron-07-14-20-76033723
Thanks for reading!
If you enjoyed this, please help me spread the word by sharing with your people.
To subscribe: https://kristinaau.com/contact-us/
You can also follow me here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinaau.workbench/
Twitter https://twitter.com/KristinaAu1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinaau
Interested in individual or group coaching?
Explore the options at Workbenchcoach.com.
At The Workbench, we are dedicated to all things coaching and personal growth.
It is here we take the time and make the space to pursue our significant dreams
and goals, one action at a time.
What can I help you build and create?
