August Is Self-Expression Month: Ready to Express!

The more you write, the better you'll like your writing.

Want to be relaxed and happy when you're working on your book or blog? Who wouldn't!

It's Monday in the second week of August. This is a great time to set your intention for the week. Mine is to begin using my natural voice more. Already it's fun.

There is no secret formula for being yourself. For, as the awakened sage Nisargadatta Maharaj might have said, "You are that."

So could you let yourself write as if you were who you already are? (It's not a trick question.)

OK, I'm messing with your head a little--or trying to. But what I'm really doing is laughing at myself. You see, when I want to create I naturally begin writing unless I get some other agenda stuck in my head (Example, "get rich quick" or "impress someone"). Then I stop being me.

When I get confused like that, I stop writing.

Daily writing should be a matter of sitting and thinking about what we want to say--and saying it. We should be able to sit down in a chair in front of a computer screen and compose our thoughts on paper without feeling ashamed or anxious, without feeling envious or inadequate--and WITH the joy that comes from spontaneous play, curiosity, and experimentation.

Sure, I've got clients with ADD who say this isn't easy. If that's a particular issue for you, then remember to design a calm writing space for yourself that's free of distractions.

If it's not, then remember to create a calm writing space for yourself that's free of distractions.

Did you see how witty I'm being? teeheeheeheeee.

I don't know about you, but the funny thing is that if I have permission to fail miserably, to fall on my face, to be/do the worst at something, then I feel kind of liberated just to do whatever it is I'm doing. A good 80% of the time that works out fairly decently for me.

I enjoy doing things for the heck of it... simply to see what's going to happen. Don't you?

Here's my proposition for the day. Let's foster a revolution for the rest of this month, where we vow to find one new way to be self-expressed every single day. Even if it's not pure writing, we can hope our fresh creative juices will spill over into our writing. We are multifaceted people, so it's likely to happen--and experience has proven to me that it DOES happen this way.

Here are six ways to get more out of your writing this month.

• Before writing raise your energy by dancing to the "Body Parts" track from the 5 Rhythms album ENDLESS WAVE, VOLUME ONE (by the late, great Gabrielle Roth). Or some other piece of lively, percussive music that increases your body awareness.
• Speed write on paper by longhand all the key points of what you're about to write--and you're not allowed to censor your thoughts. You have 60 seconds... GO!
• Tell another human being the reason why you're writing what you're writing. The REAL REASON.
• Tell another human being your secret fear about writing. Admit it, and then deal with it.
• Put a picture of someone who is your ideal reader above your desk. If you can see this face while you write, from time to time a glance will solidify your intention.
• When you're blocked feed your soul with some culture (go to a museum, for instance).

If you feel like sharing what you decide to do, send me a tweet that includes the hashtag #ExpressiveAugust and I'll retweet it to my entire contingent of 26,000 followers. 

XOXO