What is Contemplative Writing?
Contemplative Writing is a Mindfulness practice which allows you to live in the moment and come back to the moment when you wander off.
As the word “Contemplative” suggests contemplative writing is a practice of watching your thoughts and meditating through the medium of paper. Contemplative writing eases the inner critic with a loud voice. A voice that shouts out at the top of its lungs that “You are not creative”.
What are the few creative writing practices?
- Choose a prompt: Pick a theme for your writing. You can pick a quote, a word or a picture that resonates with you.
- For example, you can write about the thoughts, sensations, and perceptions that a word brings about.
- Let’s say ACTION, REFLECT, UNIVERSE.
- Click here for more ideas.
- Go on a writing riot: Another exercise can be about writing without judging. Experts say that this exercise is great to give your creativity a boost. This is how it’s done:
- Start writing about all the thoughts of the wandering mind.
- Keep the pen moving.
- Do not think about the mistakes you have made be it spell errors, punctuation and so on.
- Aim to write three pages everyday.
- Dump all the thoughts you have and start your day fresh with this exercise
- Write a story: Pick up Five or ten things from your environment. Build a story around these things. It is a great exercise to reinforce the fact that you are Creative.
Where to start?
- Start off by sitting in a quiet place. A place where you would not be disturbed.
- Turn off all the electronic devices. (Mobiles, Tablets, Laptops, Television .. anything that is a potential distraction )
- Start your practice with a 5-Minute meditation. Take a couple of deep breathes and let them out. Observe your breathing and if you catch yourself thinking, bring your awareness back to your breathing. You could also follow the simple steps of a guided meditation.
- Pick one of the activities from the writing practices. Just write.
- Write without judgement and remember the journal is for you and you alone. Write about your experiences, feelings, thoughts, sensations and insights
- Do not think of a right and a wrong. Don’t go back to correct the errors you make. Be it the grammar, spellings or punctuation.
- Write till you feel satisfied. Write until you get done.
- Reflect on how you feel at the end of the exercise.
Twelve reasons why you should write?
- Clarifies your emotions
- You explore more about yourself
- According to the scientific studies you will improve your working memory.
- Boosts your confidence
- Calms the inner critic
- Opens up the creative door
- Provides you with an opportunity to Pause
- Throws light on a new perspective
- Allows you to have the much needed ME time
- Helps you in improving your communication
- Contemplative Writing will help you focus better
- It will quieten your mind Watch this video on Contemplative Writing:
The last Tip: Make Contemplative Writing a practice. Take up a challenge of your convenient length of time frame, example a week, a fortnight, a month. Reflect upon how you feel at the end of the writing exercise. Happy Writing!!