In her book “The Artist’s Way,” Julia Cameron recommends an exercise called Morning Pages. She says the best time to write is first thing in the morning right upon waking when you are still in that “in between” phase of not quite being awake but not quite still asleep either.
Regardless of whether you journal or not or how you journal, whether it is a diary, notebook or poetry, you will find benefits from this exercise. It clarifies, prioritizes and sometimes presents grand ideas out of the blue!
At those early morning moments, we have access to our unconscious mind and our inner workings. Listening to these tender morning wisps allows us to reach into our inner world, the deeper part of ourselves that helps guide us on our path of transformation.
Because Morning Pages are a stream of consciousness written in a journal first thing in the morning, keep your journal by your bed and reach for it while you are still half asleep.
Begin by writing down any memories you may have of your dreams. At first there may be nothing, or simply minor recollections, but as you do this over and over you will build the muscle. You’ll send a powerful message to your brain: I am prepared to accept my unconscious thoughts and feelings, and I accept that more and more will be revealed. You will develop a deep, direct relationship with your inner self.
Next, write 10 things you are grateful for from yesterday. Usually our minds focus on everything that’s not going well, skipping over the fact that you have great friends, a place to live, plenty of food to eat, access to education, a job and freedom. Take time for thanksgiving and appreciating what went well yesterday.
Next comes the stream of consciousness writing. Write for at least a page, maybe two. Write whatever crosses your mind. Nothing is too petty, too bad or too silly to write down. Nobody will be reading this, so write it all. No censoring. You will be amazed at what comes out of your mind. Write quickly or write slowly. Find a pace that works for you.
All the angry, ugly stuff that you write in the morning would otherwise stand in the way of you being your best you. By doing early morning pages, you get all those repressed thoughts out of your system so you can live your life and realize that you are not your mind and you are not your thoughts. You are a spiritual being in a material world, moving forward toward the life you deserve, which is the life you truly came here to live.
I know that it can be very difficult at first to make time for journaling every morning.Try getting up just half an hour or 20 minutes earlier. This gives you 20-30 minutes of quiet time before the house fully comes alive.
If that doesn’t work, you might find a few minutes after everyone else is out of the house as well or you may find 15 minutes in a coffee shop on your way to work gives you the time you need to write, and, will add to the pleasure.
You can also try to write 15 minutes before you start your work routine. You may think it will cause you to stay later at work to get everything accomplished. But writing is like your morning workout, it is amazing how spending that time can buy you more time through the day. Your head is clearer and you can do your job and handle people more efficiently and effectively.
Journaling in the morning allows you to clear the cobwebs in your brain. You’ll notice affects almost immediately, it helps to focus you. You will find that you do things that you would have skipped over otherwise.
For more on Julia Cameron and this exercise, see READ.
© Integrative Nutrition