Sharing My Secret Magic Wand!

We’re not talking fairytales here – but I am talking about creating magic.

You can do it, too. This magic wand is a pen. It’s not just any old pen. It’s a pen with a point that feels really good when it rolls the ink onto a page – like the page of a journal.

Journal?! Am I saying you will create magic just by putting pen to paper in a journal? Yes, this is exactly what I am saying. By now you know that I never recommend you do anything that I haven’t already tried and proven to myself.

OK, I hear you – “I don’t have time to even think. I’m not a writer. I don’t know what to write. I don’t have a journal. Anything I say isn’t going to create magic. You’re crazy. It’s easy for you to say, you’re a writer.” Does this pretty much cover it?

Enough with the excuses!

I recently took up the habit again of writing daily in my journal again after a few years of telling myself it didn’t make any difference, I didn’t need it. Was I ever wrong — I am blown away! The pen really does create magic.

I hear you — “What do you want me to write about? “I have nothing to say.” Then, write that.

I’m mean it. Write, “I don’t know what to say,” and watch what happens.

Our minds are filled with thoughts. Sometimes we get stuck on one to the point of obsession, which keeps us from getting to the good stuff. Once we write it down, the obsession ends and we can move forward.

I’ll admit that my journaling over the years has often been page after page of getting the blah, blah, blah, blah crap out of my head so I could attempt to move forward – which works, by the way.

Here are a few more good reasons for you to pick up your pen:

• You’ve got a problem – you want to solve it.
  Once you write down the problem, your mind magically opens up and starts looking for possible solutions. You’ve created space.

• You’re feeling sad or sorry for yourself – like a victim. This is when your pen is like a good friend and/or therapist. And it’s free.
• Often, what we most need is to feel someone is listening and understanding. It is you listening to you. The best answers almost always come from inside.

• Something good happens – you want acknowledge it — milk it for all the juicy good there is for you from the experience. It’s so easy to forget the good stuff.

• You’re having a temper tantrum – you can’t think straight because you are so angry. Once you spew and vent onto the page, you are able to take a step back and see a different perspective of the situation. I love the line from A Course in Miracles, “I am never upset for the reason I think.
• You get a creative idea and aren’t sure where to go with it. Write it down. You’ll amaze yourself with the ideas that start showing up.

How do you get started? Here are some ideas that work for me:

1.  Buy a journal that appeals to you – you like the cover and it feels good to you when you pick it up. Make sure it has lines with just the right width of spacing for your writing style. Or maybe you want unlined so you can draw pictures too.
I like paper that is heavy enough that I can write on both sides without the ink showing through, and lines wide enough that I don’t have to write small.

2.   Choose a pen that feels good in your hand and the ink flows easily – no struggles.

3.  Tell yourself you only have to write 1 sentence, even if it’s, “I don’t know what to say.” A few nights ago I started with that line and before I knew it I’d filled a page. You will surprise yourself.

4.  Timing depends on you. If you wake up in the morning feeling unfocused for the day grabbing your pen and paper can really make a difference in your attitude and how your day flows. I like to write at least a few lines at the end of my day to release anything that would keep me from a good night’s sleep.

FIRE THE EDITOR!

I’m putting this at the end of this blog because above all I want you to remember this. No one is going to read what you write. If fact it is highly likely you won’t even read it again.It is all about feeling free to express you to you!

You and your pen will create the magic!