The Mindful Writer

by Nancy Sackheim

     Have you ever found yourself turning into your driveway and not remembering quite how you got there?  Or looking at someone across the table who has been talking for the last few minutes, and pauses for your response, except you have no idea what they've been saying?  Your mind has a mind of its own.  And if you're a writer, likely many minds.  Ah the multiple-personality brain of a writer.  All those characters' chaotic lives wending their way through myriad (often parallel) story lines of potential books that, if begun, are often shoved aside by a competing concept.  What's a writer to do?  One remedy is practicing mindfulness. 

     If you're familiar with relaxation techniques, meditation, or yoga, you've probably heard of mindfulness.  If not, Jon Kabat-Zinn offers this basic definition, "It is the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally, to the unfolding of experience moment to moment.”  There's nothing really magical about mindfulness.  It is simply focusing on what you are doing at this very moment without thinking about anything else.  For writer it's about letting go of all those fears, insecurities, and lack of self confidence when we sit in front of that blank page. 

     Mindfulness is often referred to as the practice of mindfulness.  That's because mindfulness requires a lot of practice.  Consistent, daily practice.  For most of us it does not come easy.  One step forward, two (or five) steps back has been my experience over a number of years.  For a while now I've been in the five steps back mode.  Time to begin again!  I'll report back in a month or so.  In the meantime, if you want to get started, you will have no problem finding articles, books, teachers, and groups to assist you in finding your way.  No, I'm not inserting a bunch of links here.  This is a "do-it-yourself" research zone.  Okay, no link, but one reference. Dr. James Doty's book, "Into the Magic Shop."  contains a simple and clear explanations of how to practice mindfulness and change your life.