twenty words
EXERCISE:
time required: 5+ minutes
materials: journal, pen or pencil
Write down a list of words that come to mind without editing. Try to do this quickly, without judgement or overthinking. There are no rules, so list whatever pops into your head, whether recording inspirations, random thoughts, dreams or just venting. Feel free to write more words or less if you are having a hard time getting to twenty. The goal is to clear out the top layer that is buzzing around your mind in order to access a deeper layer. This writing is for your eyes only, should be unfiltered and authentically you.
Once you have your list, take a look at the words and consider what your thought process was for creating it. Did you free-associate? Make a list of to-dos? Record things you have dreamed about? List random things in your sight-line? These are all great approaches. Circle 5 of your words that are most interesting to you. We recommend continuing this practice through the 14 days of this Pathway. You will be able to review these words and make note of common threads or themes that emerge here, and in the other exercises. You will refer back to these later in the Pathway.
BENEFITS:
helps access a state of play
increases self-awareness
releases emotions
encourages mind wandering
expands capacity to daydream
promotes imagination and idea generation
The Morning Pages
In the go-to artist's handbook, The Artist's Way, author Julia Cameron recommends a similar clearing practice, known as the "morning pages", three handwritten pages of stream-of-consciousness writing . Cameron describes them best, “They are not even ‘writing’. They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind – and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page… and then do three more pages tomorrow.” The emphasis is not on content, but on clearing out the things on your mind to release them, and free the way to open yourself up to creativity. Feel free to write your version of the morning pages if you prefer it to listing twenty words.
