I know that getting stuck on trying to fix a recurring or banal line isn’t conducive to getting out a first draft - Get back to it later, right? Right. When you do get back to it (whenever that is), you try on different strategies targeting left or right brain type thinking (If you’re a fan of that theory). If you’re lucky, the by-product will be a stroke of genius or acceptable at worst. While a source of torment, working on it usually yields some progress if not at the very least will prove to be an exercise in learning about coping, standards and trying different strategies to get those creative juices pumping. Now. When you think about it, isn’t that a pretty awesome thing? You’re not just writing any more (as “just for fun” as you thought it was), you’re training your brain, making connections about what you do in the face of a writing obstacles, what you do in an effort to communicate on a level that’s important to you. The kicker here is that if the outcome is negative and you THINK your obstacle impossible to overcome, you may be training your brain for future negative outcomes.
The Positive effects of practice. That kind of thing doesn’t end with the period written in black ink at the end of a sentence. Practicing and doing can be THAT KIND of helpful across the board. Here’s a neat thought: Ever try an express how you feel towards someone? Does that ever come off as void of emotions or like you’re reading from a script? It can, and while doing is often times more important than speaking; meaningful, straight from the heart communication can be such a gift. The truth is we’ll all get tripped up in the recurring or banal lines of our past, or sometimes have rehearsed them so much that they are just about cement inside. My thoughts are that to move past it, we accepting what it is, think about expression, try on alternatives, let your right brain take a stab at it and keep practicing. The more you write, the higher the likeliness that you’ll run into it and also the more you will train your mind. The more we practice communicating, the better we get at that too. What a wonderful gift to yourself and to others, adding personal meaning to writing, to communication, to life.
- Josh