Last week I held a workshop with the theme of “Procrastination – Now or Never?”. It was absolutely wonderful to hear my group sharing their stories, ideas and insights surrounding this theme. I can’t share any content here of course as we have made a commitment in which we all know that what is shared in the group stays in the group.
However, I can share what the discussion led to and this was kindness for oneself and others. Again, it was wonderful to hear so many different stories and anecdotes from each and everyone in the group. It is such a joy as a facilitator to see heads bowed writing with no hesitation when offered a theme, a poem, a prompt. We never know how a writing for wellbeing workshop will develop and provide us with food for thought, in terms of healing, insights into our lives and who we are, solace and comfort. Just the very act of writing and sharing in this way has so much to offer in terms of opening up ourselves and letting go onto the blank page.
It was an incredibly cold, wet day and we were writing in a large old conservatory with hardly any heating, it wasn’t working properly, and yet the warmth in the room was magical as everyone was willing, happy and eager to share. The variety of teas and coffee helped the warmth too. So did the short exercise I introduced to ground us and leave behind our journeys travelling to this glorious building in the midst of beautiful autumnal gardens. There are times in workshops where there may be some in the group who do not want to share and need to remain quiet. The golden silence is very welcome too. There is no pressure to share and when we do share, we only share what we want to. This knowledge is very freeing in itself.
At one point in the morning it felt a good time for me to introduce the healing benefits of “morning pages”. Only one person had heard of them. All were very keen to try this tried and tested way. One well-known and often used book is Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way which I recommended. Morning pages is for beginners and experienced writers alike and can be a more approachable way to writing than the commitment of keeping a journal or a diary. Yet all these aids to healing and understanding ourselves offer great insights; as well as developing our writing skills. I will be honest and admit I only do them sporadically at the moment but now I’ve revisited via mentioning it in the workshop I will embrace the method again and not procrastinate! Although, as I mentioned and gave examples of in the workshop, I don’t necessarily view procrastination as a negative trait, it can be positive too. David Whyte in his book Consolations has a lovely short observational chapter on procrastination.
As I’m on the subject of books what springs to mind is a book that I feel can be helpful to beginner writers, and more established writers too. This is Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird: Instructions on Writing and Life. Her simple, straightforward, honest book is an enjoyable read.
This month’s workshop journey has led us from procrastination to kindness to morning pages via exercise and ending up with a brief meditation followed by an invitation to choose a flower essence card with an affirmation from my pack of Alaskan cards. A truly enriching experience can unfold in each and every Writing for Wellbeing workshop. More details on my events page.