How to write without limits
Are you aware of your writing beliefs?
One of the things we learn from coaching and NLP is the power of our beliefs. They are not facts, but we tend to treat them as if they were. They become the rules we live by. They also act as self-fulfilling prophecies. Joseph O’Connor in the NLP Workbook> writes that “they act as permissions as well as blocks to what we can do”. A negative belief will limit what we think is possible, achievable, realistic. This applies as much to writing as any other area of our lives.
Of course we are not always consciously aware of the negative or limiting beliefs that are holding us back. We may need to learn how to ‘listen in’ to our internal dialogue, to tune into what we are telling ourselves. One way to do this is to think about your writing goals then ask yourself: what’s stopping you? what’s holding you back?
I had a great journalism mentor who saw writing for the public as an honor and a commitment, so I have always approached writing as an audience-based activity. Unfortunately, approaching it that way has made some of my writing more of a duty-bound obligation than a matter of creatively and joyously resonating with my audience.
Thanks for helping me see writing in a new light.
Thank you for the feedback – and for reminding me of this post that was written many moons ago!
Joanna