Inktober Day 23: It Worked for Toni

I relate to these words from Toni Morrison. She articulates very well how the process of writing makes you think:

Writing is really a way of thinking about things that are disparate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic or just sweet.

– Toni Morrison 2019

In talking with a client, they mentioned the power of guilt. Which they defined as a self imposed emotion. “No one can make you feel guilty, you have to impose that emotion on yourself because of something they said or you did.” That conversation made me think. I had to ponder why I feel guilty and what was the source of that emotion. When I began writing about it the clouds cleared and I could better process guilt. Toni Morrison was right on the money!

Our brains process things differently when we write, especially if we use paper and ink. When our hand creates words a different area of our brain is stimulated and we remember, process and learn better. Not sure what that says about our computer based society, but that is a topic for another post!

With all the stimulus we have – television, movies, videos, the internet, podcasts, activities – there seems to be very little time to think. To actually sit still, in the quiet and process our thoughts, our day, even our emotions. We’ve become so busy that we are too busy to think. I see the impact this lack of thinking has on us all and I work to negate that challenge in my own world. I set up spaces to think – where there is no stimulus or phone charger. I turn off the tv and I set aside time to do nothing but think. I may think when riding or walking, creating or mostly when I write. And yes, Toni Morrison, writing is a great way to think.

How do you do your best thinking? WHEN do you do your best thinking? Where do you go to give yourself the gift of peace and quiet in order to process your life? When we choose not to think or process things, we run the danger of making bad decisions and agregious mistakes. I hope you will consider as your week progresses the gift you give yourself and those in your life when you take the time to think. Maybe you need to write things down…just sayin’! It worked for Toni, it may work for you too!