The Mindful Writer's Practice - Breathe In...Breathe Out...

by Nancy Sackheim            

You are sitting at your desk or wherever it is you have designated as your place to write, all your writing accoutrements are in place, you have this amazing idea for a book that will change your readers' worlds, and...you are just sitting there.  Oh, your mind is moving at the speed of light about a gazillion things, a few of them even story points for your amazing book, but you are unable to focus.  And if you can't focus, it's next to impossible to write. 

What to do?  You've heard meditation helps with focus and concentration, but how do you get started?  You realize you're going to have to do some research (and postpone today's pages goal) and feel an immediate sense of relief. 

That relief lasts until your research turns up a couple dozen ways to meditate and you are going to have to spend more time deciding which method might work for you.  However, if you are new to meditation, Mindfulness Meditation is probably the best place to begin.  It is an adaptation from traditional Buddhist practices, but practiced in the west largely without the eastern concepts and philosophies. 

 Mindfulness Meditation can be practiced anywhere, anytime, but most often while sitting on a cushion on the floor or in a chair.  If you choose a chair, why not choose the chair you sit on when you write, and eliminate the distraction of transitioning. 

Practicing Mindfulness isn't complicated.  It's about paying attention.  Begin by paying close attention to your breath.  You breathe in.  How does that feel?  How does it feel when you breath out?  Do that again.  Focus on the inhale and exhale.  Maybe you close your eyes.  Rest your hands in your lap.  See if you can create a  slow breathing rhythm.  Continue to pay attention to how the breathing rhythm feels. 

You will get distracted and  that's okay.  Simply notice you were distracted, then gently come back to the observance of your breathing.  Maybe you practice for five minutes the first time, maybe only two.  That's what your practice is today.  Observe how you feel both physically and mentally.  Now it's time to write.

Tomorrow you will practice.  Maybe your practice will last a bit longer.  Maybe not.  Maybe you will be more distracted or maybe less.  Either way will be tomorrow's practice.

When your practice ends, notice how your body and your mind feels before you begin writing.

The following day you will practice, then you will write.