Morning Pages
Before you start your day: write three pages of written stream of consciousness...
Before you start your day, write down three pages of written stream of consciousness. And then throw them away. You’re not writing a story and no one is meant to read them.
The Artist’s Way, a book written by Julia Cameron (once married to Martin Scorsese and a successful director/artist in her own right), offers this indispensable and essentially obligatory hack for all creatives. This has been one of the greatest tips I have ever received as an artist and for my own personal journey of self-discovery and evolution.
I bought this book before I began one of the most important chapters of my existential exploration … six months in Paris, completely alone for the first time in my entire life, to reclaim my independence as a woman, reconnect to my intuition which I lost touch with long ago and learn to follow those instincts unapologetically, and to explore my creative side that I had ignored for much of my life.
When we first wake up in the morning, the mind is flooded with words… sometimes random words, sometimes complete thoughts and, oftentimes, it’s nothing more than unhelpful nonsense or, worse, negative calamitous garbage. Not to mention that serotonin levels are lowest in the morning. By writing down all the thoughts that come to mind, it’s as if we clear out the sludge and open a portal to more creative thoughts. As I wrote the pages each morning in my Parisian flat in the 6th arrondissement, sometimes just a word came to mind, or a string of unrelated words, names, feelings. What about when nothing came to mind? Stick it out a little longer. I would write “I don’t know what to write” as many times as I needed to until thoughts began to flow. Sometimes the thoughts were expansive, sometimes banal, but other times horrible self-defeating beliefs would surface. Writing it all down – getting them on the page – made all the difference. In fact, I have found it to be another form of therapy (the more therapy tools in our tool belts the better, am I right?). I often work through the weights sitting heavily on my mind, finding clarity that leads to solutions that had not arrived by just trying to “think” about them. Morning Pages aren’t meant to be eloquent. They are not a story, an essay, a poem… what we write doesn’t even have to be a complete thought. The process is a catharsis: clear away the trash that is blocking the way to the treasure. After writing these pages, I felt lighter, more inspired and noticed more creative thoughts coursing through my mind.
I have kept some of my Morning Pages. It’s not necessary but I like to go back to them as a form of introspection. When I do, I find myself taking a victory lap. Because I see my growth before my very eyes, reminding me of my progress and bolstering the trust I have in myself for the next challenge. I see a woman who struggled with something and, through her own inner knowing, found her way… no matter how big or small the step was. And, on the other side of those pages, is a woman more certain of herself and more connected to her creative energy and her own reservoir of self-knowledge.
The rest of the book is filled with other exceptional tips for artists to unblock your creativity and nurture the artist within. The Artist’s Way not only mirrored back to me the artist inside (who was timid and in need of reassurance) but provided exercises and support as I embarked on this journey. And, as I met other artists in Paris – writers, painters, dancers, photographers – almost every one of them knew about the book, had read it, and sang its praises… some even calling it “the artist’s bible.”
If you’re feeling blocked as an artist or, if you think there is an artist within but are not sure, or if you long to be an artist but don’t believe you are… get the book and start with Morning Pages. Because I can tell you that you ARE an artist and this is a great first step to discover this hidden side of yourself that is whispering to be seen.