Action Begets Passion

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During weeks like this one (first week of January 2021), it feels like the world is burning. And not just from climate change. Insurrection and rioting in DC, a pandemic raging out of control, people everywhere jobless and suffering financially.

It’s hard to even think about writing at times like this, let alone put pen to page.

And yet, I believe we must. It is our charge as writers to write during difficult times. That is what we do. (I wrote more about this in my weekly love letter.  To subscribe, click here. )

Paradoxically, this week I’ve actually been writing up a storm in the early morning hours of the day. And that is because I’ve rediscovered a key writing lesson that makes getting to the page easier.  (I say re-discovered because it’s something I knew but forgot. There’s a lot of things that are easy to forget while striving to maintain a creative practice.)

 What I’ve remembered is this: action begets passion. Taking concrete steps towards your goal gets you excited about it. This is incredibly easy to forget when in the throes of an unfolding news story or any kind of crisis.

It often unfolds that you have a desire to write or create yet can’t quite get yourself to start on your project.  Instead, you convince yourself to read yet another news update, or a blog about some aspect of your project. Or an article on a totally random topic. (Down the rabbit hole we go!)

Or maybe you, like me, convince yourself that you’re spending plenty of time on your passion, thank you very much. And you, like me, might linger longer than necessary over breakfast and the crossword. Or take a longer shower. Or read two five extra chapters of your novel.* Drift through your everyday activities without a lot of urgency.

But what’s happened to me this week is that the lure of doom scrolling, shadow comforts, and unnecessary errands has dissipated as I get excited about my project. I do only part of the crossword with breakfast, saving the rest for a break later. I rush through my shower and other to-dos, in the hope of nabbing some extra time for writing later. I stop myself from doom scrolling much, much faster, because it’s boring compared to your WIP.

And another funny thing happens. You actually have the energy to do all these things in a quick, decisive manner. Devoting yourself to your writing regularly releases the energy you spend not writing and suddenly all of your other activities flow like water.

Magic.

And it all comes from getting to the page.

Writing and creativity is the source of our power, people. We need that power to remake the world, to set things right, to ensure that love wins. It’s not self-indulgent to spend time creating. It’s what the world needs right now.

So take that first action step. It can be tiny. One word. One brushstroke, one stitch. I’m willing to be that soon you’ll find yourself wrapped up in your project. And when your work session is over, you’ll be refreshed and renewed and ready to face the world.

*These are all worthy self-care activities and we need them now more than ever, don’t get me wrong. Please do allow yourself to indulge in them as needed. But, and this is a big but, when you are a writer, maker, or creative, writing creating, and making are self-care activities as well. Don’t forget that.

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Book Review: The Ancient Way: Discoveries on the Path of Celtic Christianity