A couple of years ago, in writing about difficulties of creating a post almost daily, I said, ‘A new post is like a blank Word document or a fresh sheet of paper – a tabula rasa – exciting for its very spaciousness.’ But the vacant page is also intimidating because of its very emptiness.
I’ve learned from 7 years of blogging that, when the Muse smiles on me, there is a happy co-incidence of interesting ideas and great writing technique. The result is that can I deliver something of value to the reader.
When I hit the mark, my spirit soars and I feel satisfied, even proud of what I’ve put on the page. And, when I miss my target, well, it’s an opportunity to practice self-forgiveness. I might even remember to acknowledge myself for being so persistent.
I can make a comparison to doing yoga practice. Sometimes you roll out your mat, take a seat or lie down, and then don’t know what to do next. The way through, I’ve learned, is taking action without resistance. If you listen to your Inner Critic, you’ll be giving in to resistance – that voice that suggests you should be doing something else, or let’s just skip practice today, or maybe you’re too busy or unskilled anyway….
It’s true that it’s sometimes hard work silencing the babble of the Inner Critic. When this happens, take a break and try this pose, called supta baddha konasana: It works well to use props, and you can improvise with what you have around home. Stay for up to 10 minutes.