What about writing is so uncomfortable?
Writing puts our thoughts where we can see them. Writing lets us judge our thoughts from a different perspective. Writing magnifies self-loathing. We fear that we are not good enough. We fear that our writing is shit. We judge our writing as if our words represent our selves.
Writing is uncomfortable because we’re not sure we have anything interesting to say. And if we have nothing interesting to say, then we ourselves must be uninteresting. If what we write reflects who we are, then writing is risky.
To write is to be naked. To write is to stare into the sun. To write is to be vulnerable. To write is to accept how little we know. To write is to acknowledge our insignificance. To write is to dive into darkness. To write is to confront chaos.
Writing offers an uncomfortable degree of freedom. The blank screen threatens to devour us. We can pick from an endless number of words to write next. Writing forces us to make decisions. Writing forces us to eliminate possibilities. We think, “Who am I to decide what word to write next?”
Who are you not to decide? Who are you not to make mistakes? Who are you not to be aware?
Writing empowers. Writing teaches compassion. Writing holds a mirror up to our minds.
related:
morning pages
writing / learning
