Wild Mind, Free Spirit

Lessons from Natalie Goldberg

Dear Friend

How are you today? How is September treating you? I hope the sun is shining in your corner of the world.

This newsletter will be short, but sweet, filled with a few thought provoking journaling prompts. Yesterday I left the green, green grass of Wales in search of a slower pace to life, I’ve definitely found what I was looking for… this is my gorgeous beach house on the Greek island of Symi for the next few days.

Wish you were here

On Monday, I did elude to the fact I would share the third scene of my trauma story today, but I’m not ready to open up about it and that’s ok. For me this week is all about enjoying life with ease. Taking time to watch the sun rise, swim, read, snooze, sunbathe and just be at peace with not doing very much at all.

On that note about reading, I really struggled with my holiday book selection. I even reduced my clothing pile down so I could pack more books, as I refuse to read books on a kindle. I’m curious to know, how many books do you like to take with you on holiday? Do you prefer to take the printed version or read from a. digital device?

These are the books I brought with me to Greece, plus on audiobook I’m listening to “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion and “The Trick To Time” By Kit De Wall I think that should keep me entertained for the next five days.

"When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young." – Maya Angelou

The book I’m glued to right now is called Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg, it’s a real gem of a book. While I fine tune my writing practice, it’s been the perfect tonic. Almost like my very own writing coach, I’ve so desperately needed, when the going gets tough.

If you’re curious about how other writers go about their writing practice, you may have read Natalie Goldberg’s brilliant publication Writing Down The Bones, if you haven’t yet stumbled across it, I highly recommend it.

Natalie has been an influential writing coach for years, inspiring writers of all levels to embrace the process of writing as a practice.  I am fascinated by her approach, as I take a similar direction when I teach therapeutic journaling - it is a practice and so beneficial when you make it a non-negotiable wellbeing ritual.

I’m reading Wild Mind for the second time, as it left such a lasting impression on me first time around.  It’s as though Natalie became my accountability buddy, to read her words daily was such a balm for my soul.  I like to have a different writing muse each month, in August it was Helen Garner, this September I’ve chosen Natalie. Mainly because she offers wisdom and some of the most simplest ways to breakthrough creative blocks. What she does so well, is keep things simple.

In Wild Mind, Natalie reflects on her own journey with writing, her teaching experiences and how she goes about her own life challenges.

One of my favourite Goldberg quotes from the book is “The mind that is wild, is a mind that is alive.”

My writing comes from a wild mind, but maybe it’s been too wild these days. Something I’ll ponder over while I sip my iced cold latte, with my toes almost dipping in the tranquil turquoise ocean. Wish you were here!

The first week I started to write my book, I felt like a wild woman, quite possessed with a wild mind, but to be honest as I grow older gracefully, I’m learning to lean into my wild ways.  Thanks to journaling daily, I’m able to let my pen do the work. Most days giving myself the permission to be wild and raw and vulnerable on the page. As Natalie goes on to say "Uncontaminated by judgment or preconceived notions.”

When life gets tough Natalie encourages us to lean into the writing, not away from it.  I have to keep reminding myself of this, especially when I procrastinate about my heartfelt storytelling or when writing feels too hard to do.

“Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about.  Be willing to be split open.”  Natalie Goldberg

This openness, which I understand it to be, happened to me a couple of weeks ago when I wrote about how I’d compartmentalised my car crash for over 16 years.  Once I had given myself the permission to write wild, with sheer grit, it made the experience of writing so much more powerful and transformational.

As I sit under the Greek sunshine, enjoying quality time to read, to be in slumber and when I wake to journal whatever gobbldeegook, I’m going to use some of these journaling prompts, if anything, to help keep my writing alive.  Note to self - my book isn’t going to write itself. Please help yourself, I hope you find some of these prompts useful…

1. Write without stopping for five minutes - about anything that comes to mind.  Don’t worry about making sense.  Just let the pen do the work.

2. What do you fear right now? Explore this without holding back. Let your mind wander and whatever you’re thinking pour it out onto the page.

3. Describe a recent challenge you’ve faced.  How did it make you feel? Capture every detail.

4. Write about a moment of joy that you’ve experienced recently, no matter how small. What did it feel like? Take the time to capture all the small details.

5. If you could tell your past self one thing, what would it be?  Let yourself talk to the version of you that needed this wisdom.

6. List five things that are on your mind right now. Try and free write about each one for 2 minutes.  Which means don’t stop the pen moving.  Don’t worry about grammatical errors and tell your inner critic to simmer down!

If I’ve learnt anything this year, it’s that journaling doesn’t need to be complicated.  Just as Natalie mentions about writing practice, "It’s in the act of showing up and doing the work, however messy, that we grow.”

Keep on journaling!

Until the next time

Take care and stay safe xx

PS. Do you ever choose a word of the day, the month or the year? I love to write about my word of the month, with my all time favourite word being Serendipity: The best way to live life, is to embrace serendipity and make unexpected moments a regular part of your day. Please share your word of the month if you have one, I’d love to know as there are so many words I’m yet to discover. All our favourite words would make great journaling micro-movements - the simple task of writing for 2 minutes non stop about your favourite word.