Knowing These 3 Meditation Secrets Will Make Your Writing Sessions Amazing

Meditation is a new technique for me. It started as a way to decompress and destress, but the benefits surpassed my expectations and I knew it would work for my writing, too.

1.      It all started with a simple app on my Android phone: Take a Break. The app guided me through a meditation session that provided clarity and quieted my mind. What I wasn’t expecting was the creativity that flowed afterward. The 7 minute work break feature was perfect at the beginning of each writing session.

2.      Later, I added a different form of meditation – active meditation. While passive meditation focuses on clearing the mind, deep breathing, and relaxing the muscles, active meditation is the process of giving your mind over to a task in a mindful manner. Sorry pantsers, sitting down for a free-for-all writing session does not qualify. In fact, many of the tasks don’t involve working on your current WIP at all. My writers group invited a handwriting specialist to speak, and I was introduced to the concept of graphotherapy. I bought the book “Change Your Handwriting, Change Your Life” by Vimala Rodgers and embarked on daily cursive handwriting sessions to change the wa my mind thinks.

3.      Finally, I added a third form of meditation – Bible journaling. Even though I’m creative, painting and drawing are not natural talents I possess. However, I’ve always enjoyed both activities. I started a board on Pinterest, got a special journaling Bible, and set to work.

I used to think meditation involved a yoga mat, water sounds, and a lot of humming. That has all changed. Let’s look at the dictionary definition of the word meditation:

Meditation (noun) – contemplation, thought, thinking, musing, pondering, consideration, reflection, concentration

When you examine the meaning of the word meditation, you can see that it involves controlling the mind to a task in a mindful way. To break that down: you clear the mind, eliminate distraction, and focus the mind on a certain task.

As a Christian, my meditation sessions include time with the Lord. You may want to substitute this part with another creative activity.

Start out with a short session on breathing and relaxation, follow that with time for reflection or fellowship with God, and end with handwriting practice to transform your mind.