Ever Wonder What to Write? The Writing Process

If you ever question yourself in what to write, I suggest you start journaling. Before you tune this message completely out, words and musings don’t need to be elaborate or even eloquent. Just putting thoughts and feelings on a page starts the writing process. I have been encouraged to write my thoughts down through the years ever since high school and uncovering some of my writings is revealing in many ways. At this point, I am wondering if our kids will ever take the time to read some of my sketched out thoughts. There are actually some entries I hope they don’t read, but I have kept many of my writings and my personal journal books.

Recently, when cleaning out a cabinet, I ran across a small notebook I had penned ten years ago and I almost tossed it. But I’m glad I didn’t. It was interesting to find I was facing some of the same feelings today as I was back then. I was addressing my awareness of change in the market and changes in my career. I also found written out prayers for our sons and their futures as well as my personal feelings of inadequacy, which were unfounded in many ways, but were still honest feelings. I was able to watch, from reading the words on the page, how I was able to personally work through many of the feelings I had. Some of that process I was applying to my life at that time have carried over to systems I have implemented in my work to help others today.

Even if you have never spent time journaling, I’m going to cover four principles on what to write to spark your imagination. Hopefully this will help you to move forward not only in your ability to work through your feelings, but to move ahead in your life, getting out of endless roundabouts.

One: Write About Who You Are

It’s a worthwhile exercise to write out your core values and what you absolutely stand for. It’s also valuable to assess your strengths and affirm them. There are many online programs that will help you identify strengths, such as the DISC program or Strength Finder. However, you don’t always need an in-depth course to figure this out. If you spend some time writing out what you’ve done and some of your accomplishments, you will affirm some of the areas where you have either excelled or under-performed.

Two: Write About Your Feelings

After reading Teresa de Grosbois’ book Mass Influence, the phrase I am not enough hit me hard. I wrote those words in an entry ten years ago when I was expanding my career. I immediately could recall feeling those words, I am not enough in many areas of my life. Today, the phrase Imposter Syndrome is one we often hear. Feeling like a fake is a common occurrence in the arts, but I really wasn’t a fake. However, it was a feeling. I found those feelings were unmistakably there as I expanded my career as a speaker and author. So how did I overcome those feelings? I wrote them out... (read more...)

Three: Write About What You Love

Even ten years ago, my entries mention our family and prayers for our sons. I have also penned words and principles of a deep faith, which has been a part of my life for many years. Those words come naturally?because of my core values and they are regularly on my mind. It is why I’ve included a chapter in the appendix of my newest book Stop Circling on core values. Our core values create a strong foundation on which our purpose stands.

Four: Write About How You Can Help Others

What has changed since I penned those words years ago is that I have both consciously and sub consciously taken some of my feelings and applied them to the products I continue to provide today. In fact, reading through some of the entries were so very revealing and helpful. I know my journal writings will continue to give me words to help others.

Even though he was not the first to use the phrase, “A rising tide lifts all boats” is often attributed to former President John F. Kennedy in a 1963 speech. Boats rising up on a body of water is a wonderful visualization of a consequence of helping others. We inadvertently help our own boat rise. Whether intentional or not, it is a welcome and desired outcome.

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The Host

DEBORAH JOHNSON, M.A.?has 25+ years working as an entertainer, composer, producer, author and speaker. Her keynote, "The Hero Inside" stirs audiences to not settle for merely playing as an accompanist to their dreams. Rather, it is to call upon everything they have inside to be soloist & center stage in pursuing & accomplishing their dreams and potential. This can include pursuing a new avenue or expanding on a current area of business, especially at mid-career or the halftime of life. Get more free downloads & links at:?DJWorks. Websites:?DeborahJohnsonSpeaker.com; GoalsForYourLife.com; DJWorksMusic.com