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Writing for health. Writers follow these tips, and writing will become a health benefit. Find you!
Nothing is more enticing than a blank page.
Write For Life.
Write for the good stuff. Write to smile. Write to breathe better. Write to Love. Write for Life. And you say what? I write for a "living". And I say "ah hah" but do you? Most writers of any caliber have an addiction to writing. And most people see all addictions as bad. Well they are wrong.
Think of an addiction as losing control over yourself. Allowing something else to so control your thoughts that you must make a conscious effort to think of something else. Even some substance addictions can be good. I am addicted to getting up in the morning and going and drinking a large glass of water. And yes I am addicted to writing.
So let us extrapolate on this notion of the dark and gloomy side of addiction to writing versus the light and healthy side of such addiction.
It is three o'clock in the morning and .......
There you are pounding out that poem, grappling with God and the Cosmos or traveling to a foreign land in your mind. Or no, it is a labor of love to help people understand the instructions on how to run their smart phone. Or maybe it is a rant against the Government or how to throw a party on 5 bucks.
You got issues that even your wonderful spouse does not get and they worry about you.
One solution is to make good money. Then somehow you are transported into the land of being a genius and respected for your talents. How silly that we would look to such things to validate our addiction.
Still think addiction is a bad word? Just listen to this.
Straight up! No need for a long quiz -- you already know.
Are you addicted to writing?
So now let us take that addiction and let it lead to good health
Good health is so often more about attitude than a perfectly healthy body. And normally attitude must come first. I know people that can eat a perfectly healthy meal and get sick right after. They get their bodies so uptight and stressed out that they actually change the juices running around inside their body so that it cannot digest properly. Really get to know the big teddy bear guy who has chronic heartburn. And though he spends great energy looking and acting all jovial and relaxed he will have internal issues. Every single time.
I apologize ahead of time to those with chronic illnesses. But I do know what that is like from depression to cancer, been there and done that. My attitude shaped my degree of handicap. Or as my youngest daughter likes to say handicapable.
Now you have the idea. Kick back, look up and let it soak in. Take a few deep breathes.
Now take your tools for writing and make them warm and fuzzy. Most use computers nowadays. Love that baby. Give it a hug. Thank it for being your friend. Caress it. Get it in your head that the computer makes you happy and is a great part of your life.
Oh boy, we are just getting started!
That boy is standing ankle deep in his very own mud puddle.
Here is a fun story to drive home the point.
I had a yogi for years. In the first few years of Tai Chi, meditation and yoga he insisted on striking a pose, putting hands in a certain position and following an exact routine for deep relaxation and meditation. He would make clear this was not to be done in an easy chair or laying down or standing.
Then he went to visit his brother for Thanksgiving and of course the meditated together. Finally one time the brother just said, come to my office and meditate with me, my way. My yogi got all prepared against a wall cross legged with hands just so. The brother sat in his office chair at his desk. They went through deep breathing and concentration together to the quiet half hour of just meditating. They brother swiveled in his chair and began to type at his computer. Eyes closed breathing perfect and totally relaxed and in concentration.
He wrote a thousand word "essay" on the love of brothers. And then came out of meditation relaxed rejuvenated and very happy. (what we call "blissed out")
Of course the yogi grew from this experienced and shared it with our sangha (community).
It did a remarkable thing that is worthy to be sought after. It helped us to "take our practice, off the mat" and into the world. And of course this must be the good goal of all writers.
At my core and tie to the earth.
Find what it is that pulls and tugs you to write.
Something some how drives you to write. Sit down and figure out what that is. Go back and find a great piece you have written and concentrate on what it was that made you write it. Think hard, contemplate. Find that space again. Then understand it. What made you so inspired. It does not matter if it was a nothingness or a great pain or compassion or passion. Grab it and own it.
Go elsewhere and sit quietly and concentrate on it and visualize it. Be it! Now sit still and retrace how you got it when you got it and let that be a part of your consciousness. Then go back to where you write or create. And recreate it. Try this for a week if it does not come easy. Go easy on yourself, it will come.
Now if you are really trying hard to do that, what else can enter into your mind? Sorry there is no room. It should be a good place for you. Maybe it is painful, because you are working through some pain -- that is good. Maybe it is just happiness, of course that is good. Maybe it is just a place where juices flow freely and thoughts then come easy. Who cares?
The idea would be this: The stress and worries of the world keep us going to strive and do better. This is good but you have got to turn it off. And rest and recharge. If you can make your writing time that kind of time then your "addiction" will become as healthy as exercise and eating right. And it will improve with out distractions. And it will just plain help you to feel better.
Just some fun follow through ideas.
My office is my son's favorite play place. It is hard to get to my desk sometimes for all of the toys and stuff. He only gets to play in here for about 1-2 hours per day. He basically nowadays ignores me. But he likes to have me right here and right now. If he wants privacy he just tells me to write on my computer or check my email. He can actually go through my window to the patio and play there also but within site of me. It is a good and happy place and space. It is secure and we know what each other is doing, so it is actually calming to both.
Now that is what makes my space happy and I have written 10's of thousands of words in this place. I like it. I look forward to coming in here and sitting down to write. Even when he is gone the essence is still here -- just like the danged toys I nearly break my neck on ;-)
I use this ridiculous example for a reason. There are no rules to your own space. Maybe it includes pictures and books and a coffee maker or a fruit bowl. Hopefully not a bottle of whiskey in a drawer, but hey, I do not judge LOL. Flowers and trinkets. Or maybe absolutely nothing. Maybe just a blank fold out table with pad and pen. Maybe candles and whoo whoo music. Hey all set up spiritually is awesome.
Just make your space a place where you can get into that zone. And get there daily.
And last but not least please share you with me and others like me. So we are not so alone in our heads but have company. Because remember, all addictions have a scary side and we must help each other avoid that space.