“From the front of the classroom, the transformation that Morning Pages causes is almost startling. Even after two and a half decades as a teacher, I am still struck with wonder as people seem to change right before my eyes. I call the process ‘spiritual chiropractic’ as changes are made in exactly the direction that they are needed. Overeaters curb their binges. Undereaters begin to eat more regularly. From the front of the room, the increased health is readily evident. And ‘all’ they are doing is writing.” (Julia Cameron, The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size”
I am changing my life. One word at a time, one creative project at a time, one moment at a time–I am manifesting a life that fills me with joy. That is difficult and sometimes scary, but it feels right.
However, in order to really live the life I envision I have to get control of several (inevitably linked) things, my weight, my health and my self-confidence. I don’t need to be a size two or anything, I just want to be a healthy weight so that I can hike comfortably with my daughter (at my own short-legged pace, of course) or travel to other countries without worrying that somehow I hold others back or might end up in the hospital. I don’t want to worry about my heart stopping at a strange moment, or future manifestations of diseases that I could prevent by simply taking better care of myself.
I know how to eat healthy, and I have had some successes without actually dieting. If I use the word diet, even in my mind, I am doomed to failure so it has been banned from my consciousness. However, in typical fashion something always happens to reverse my success. No, not something! The only thing that gets in my way is:
Me, Myself, and I
I come up with excuse for not exercising, or for eating one more cookie, or for choosing something unhealthy rather than healthy.
In the same way, I am an expert at making excuses for why I am not progressing in whatever creative project has caught my attention.
I can’t do this to myself anymore!
So I am taking on a challenge, inspired by Julia Cameron, author of The Writer’s Way and The Writing Diet. I am going to write myself right.
But not just my weight, and not just through writing.
I am going to:
- write myself right
- create myself calm
- dance myself delighted
- walk myself wonderful
- sing myself sensuous
- paint myself pretty
- journal myself joyous
I am going to do all these things and more. I know it won’t be easy and sometimes it will feel impossible. I know that life will have its ups and downs. I know I can’t do it alone.
But I believe in myself and my ability to “write myself right.”
Anyone need or want to join me?
