Why a Positive Writer’s Mindset is so Important
Nurturing a positive writer’s mindset is one of the most important aspects of a successful creative life. Staying positive affects how you're able to show up to your writer self, how you allow or disallow creative energy to flow through you, and the state of your creative self.
In today’s article, I’m going to be sharing why it is so important to have a positive writer’s mindset, how to feel positive creativity vibes, and give you five powerful ways to build a positive writer’s mindset.
Let’s get cracking!
We hear a lot about obstacles such as writer’s block, “no time to write,” inability to tap into inspiration, struggles to finish a project, etc., and that these kinds of issues are supposedly enough to slow us down or stop us altogether.
As if creativity isn’t a part of you that you actually have control over.
But the truth is that whether you hit writer’s block, struggle with finishing or with time, the root problem is a lack of connection between your real-world and creative selves. Since your creativity is a part of your whole being-ness, you actually have a CHOICE on how you’re going to show up every single day.
In fact, your creativity is such a huge part of your whole being, that when you don’t nurture it you can feel negative side effects in other areas of your real-world self.
EVERYONE HAS A CREATIVE SELF
Some are more tapped into it than others, but everyone is creative in some way. When we feel negative emotions about our creativity (like, thinking we’re not creative), then this limiting belief will play out in our lives, getting us to think we’re not smart, we aren’t good at home décor, we’re bad cooks, we can’t draw, and on and on and on.
When you’re feeling low about your performance in your real world, take a hard look at how you’re feeling about your creative self. A feeling of disharmony in your real world is a reflection of how we treat our creative selves. Take this alert as a message: reconnect with your creativity in a purer, lighter, more centered way.
HOW TO FEEL POSITIVE CREATIVITY VIBES
To feel positive creativity vibes, start with establishing time and space for your creativity.
I’m a big believer in affirmations and launching each of your writing sessions with strong, positive statements that help you feel good about your creative self.
I am a good writer.
I enjoy my writing time.
I love the story world I’m creating.
I am learning more and more every day.
My writing is improving and strengthening.
If you’re at such a low point in your writer’s mindset that the above statements don’t quite resonate, then modify them as such:
I am learning how to become a good writer.
I am eager to enjoy my writing time.
I am becoming more excited about the story world I’m creating.
Feeling good and positive about your creative self starts with YOU. We like to listen far too much to people who have negative things to say, as if embracing limiting beliefs protects us or prepares us for a potential negative outcome.
Does that really make sense?
You spend your journey hiding from a fear that may or may not happen? What kind of lessons and growth do you think you’ll encounter in that state of being?
Come on, let’s throw back the cloak of despair, raise our faces to the sky, and become open to positive, creative possibilities.
5 WAYS TO BUILD A POSITIVE CREATIVITY MINDSET
You’ve probably been a writer for longer than a day, so bear in mind that however long you’ve been holding yourself back or keeping yourself down is going to be somewhat proportionate to how quickly you can build a positive creativity mindset.
However, I will say, if you were to commit to a thirty-day practice of intentionally feeling good vibes around your writer self, then you’ll see and feel the difference in your overall creative health by the end of the thirty days.
This means if you want to see long-term change (forever change) then you’re going to have to make some deep lifestyle changes. This will look different for everyone, so it’s good to be observing and taking notes of anything that comes up for you.
When creative health is suffering, it’s a message that your real-world self and creative self are disconnected. Try the following tips to find that much-needed harmony.
HONOR WRITING TIME & SPACE.
I mention that to feel good creativity vibes, you need to establish time and space. But that’s just the beginning. You’ve got to honor that time and space and make a commitment to them. My advice is to indulge in your writing sessions every day, but I know it’s not always possible. If you can’t do it every day, then I think it’s important to at least acknowledge to your creative self that you’re missing the connection and can’t wait to get back to the writing soon.
EMBRACE ALL FORMS OF CREATIVITY.
As writers, we sometimes forget that we don’t have to just write to get the creativity and inspiration to flow. There are multiple sources of inspiration, and when the writing stalls a bit, don’t go to the dark place in your head. Rather, pivot to another form of creativity:
-read a book
-listen to an inspirational podcast
-watch a movie
-hang out in nature
-spend time with children
-spend time with pets
-exercise
-bake
-garden
-draw/paint/sketch
-sing/dance/play an instrument
-go to a museum
I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. While it’s true “the more we write, the more we write” —you could daydream about your writing projects and still consider that writing!
It’s so important to keep those creative channels open, and because there are multiple avenues between us and inspiration, we really have no excuse to not feel creativity at all.
JOURNALING.
Out of all my suggestions to struggling writers, journaling is the one that gets the most push-back. Not sure why other than I think people tend to misinterpret how a journal can be used.
We think it’s only meant for deep inner work, and while journaling is great for that, I actually love to journal my story ideas or anything that feels inspiring. This is a handy middle-man when I’m hit with an idea but I can’t sit down to engage with it fully.
Journaling the highlights and getting the important points down means I won’t forget it later.
Sometimes, journaling through writing prompts can get us in a fantastic writer’s mindset because we’re writing expectation-free. Here are some to get you started:
Lately, my character has been feeling…
This person/situation is making my character feel…
What past event/emotion is being triggered for my character?
Does my character fall into a pattern, and if so, how is it affecting them?
My character laughed about…
When my character visits … they feel …
Last night at the cocktail party, my character spotted … and this happened …
My character woke up from a nightmare and it made her fear …
FIND A LIKE-MINDED SUPPORT SYSTEM.
Writers are solitary creatures, but humans are social animals. This is why a strong connection between our real-world and creative selves is crucial. The writer in us needs to have their own, personal space and time that is respected by others. However, the social part can boost your creativity in surprising ways—as long as it is a healthy connection that serves you in your highest good.
Choosing an outpost where you can socialize along your journey comes down to your specific, individual needs. Everyone is different and will seek out different kinds of people, feedback, resources, information, accountability.
Regardless—finding a tribe, team, group, community, hive (whatever you want to call your peeps) is vital to a writer’s overall happiness, confidence, and positivity.
Giving back to your support system is JUST AS important as drawing sustenance from them. This is how communities thrive in the real-world and the same is true through a creative community. You’ll see that noise and high activity aren’t necessarily indicators of a thriving community. Rather, the best, most fruitful communities are founded upon kindness, generosity, and a willingness to listen, learn, and help.
WRITE.
I had to say it, didn’t I? You can’t expect to boost creativity or your confidence in your creativity if you don’t actually engage in the act of creativity. Writers write. Artists make art. Musicians sing or play instruments. Engineers build. Bakers bake. Gardeners garden. Creating is the fundamental characteristic detail of a creator.
Writer, you must write if you want to grow. You must write if you want to learn. You must write if you want to be happy in your creative pursuits.
Write expectation free if you feel yourself draining from too many goals, too few words written, too much comparison-itis.
Write because that is how you SHOW UP. This is how you nurture your creativity. When you're honoring your creativity by showing up, you automatically strengthen your mindset. A strong writer’s mindset is healthy, which will cause more ideas to flow, and you'll be more confident in how you can use the ideas to further your writing journey.
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WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT YOU BUILD A POSITIVE CREATIVITY MINDSET?
HAVE A WRITERLY DAY!