Stuck? This Question Will Help

It took my writing to a deeper level

What would you write if you weren’t afraid?

This is the first writing prompt in Suleika Jaouad’s¸ The Book of Alchemy, and so far, it has proved to be the most profound.

I bet you’re curious as to what I wrote in response? I wrote about sex, the details of which I won’t divulge here on Substack. There were clearly some sentiments in my heart that needed to be expressed, if only to myself.

The prompt stayed with me. It’s a powerful question. I wrote it on a Post-it note and stuck it on my computer monitor.

I look at it all the time when I’m writing.

It incites me to get to the heart of what I’m really trying to say, to go deeper, to be more honest.

It doesn’t have to be just about writing

This question can be applied to any endeavour.

What would you say if you weren’t afraid?

What would you make if you weren’t afraid?

What would you paint if you weren’t afraid?

Owning up to your fears is liberating.

Many years ago, at the beginning of my creative journey, I used to attend workshops with leadership coach, Nick Williams. One of the exercises was to write this phrase down every day for seven days and answer it: What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

I wrote several responses each day. By the end of the week, I had done some of the things I had written at the beginning. There is something about jotting down the same fears every day that makes you get bored of writing them and spurs you into action.

Whichever way you want to phrase this question, it encourages you to dig deeper and yield better results. It is satisfying to answer the question with action and it gets you to a place you might not otherwise have reached.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

Plodding gently

Cali x

Join our creativity challenge

Do you need to kickstart a creative habit? Are you stuck in the doldrums with your writing? Are you too afraid to do anything?

We’re nearly halfway through the Gentle Creative 100 day creative challenge, but don’t worry. It’s a perfect time to join us.

All you have to do is make a commitment to do a small, easy task every day that will give you the jumpstart you need.

I’m journalling, whether that is a formal writing prompt or a quick paragraph in the evening about nothing in particular. The only rule is that I have to write something in my journal, even if it’s only a sentence.

What could you commit to that would be fun, easy and doable?

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Imagine where you could be, 55 days from now!