Monthly Check-In: What is driving your creative choices?
Self-reflection + inspiration for the month ahead
Dreamist offers encouragement, camaraderie, and guidance for your writing journey. Feel free to share what resonates with you with others. Thank you for supporting the love + effort that goes into this publication with your readership, comments, shares, subscription, and patronage.
The world is noisy. No matter the strength of your mental filtration system, some of that noise inevitably sneaks into one’s psyche and takes root there. It can be so stealthy that you don’t even notice your creativity being silently guided by an invisible hand until something just feels… off.
When the wrong outside voices come into the mix (even well-meaning ones), it can stall inspiration and flow. Sometimes, resistance even burgeons into full-blown blocks. You start second-guessing every idea and decision until the overwhelm practically smothers every drop of creativity in you.
Mindfulness—staying in tune with yourself so you notice when you’re straying from your truth—is key to combatting this.
Personally, I love to do monthly check-ins as a sort of “mental maintenance.” If any limiting beliefs, patterns, or thought processes have snuck in, I can usually catch them and work through them before they become too destructive. Or, I can talk it out with someone.
The New Moon is on April 8th—and if you’re in North America, it will also be the first solar eclipse since 2017. 🌑 Whether you believe in astrology or not, the moon cycles are great natural markers to check in with your goals/intentions and do some general self-reflection.
The Full Moon is considered a time for deep introspection and releasing what no longer serves you, while the New Moon is for creating and manifesting what you want to bring in. As a writer, this is a good opportunity to ask yourself if you’re staying true to yourself as an artist or letting something (or someone) else lead your creative decisions.
“The things you want to create also want to be created through you. What you are longing to bring into the world is also what the world is longing for you to bring it.” — Brianna Wiest, The Pivot Year
The most important validation you’ll ever receive is your own, and that begins with permitting yourself to create what is most true to you. If you’re worried no one will want to read what you feel most called to write, in the way you want to write it, you’re not only robbing yourself of the gift of true self-expression but also every person who needs your unique voice, perspective, and brand of creativity.
How would you feel if your favorite author had let that noise sway them away from writing one of the books that changed your life or brought you joy when you needed it most?
Whatever encouragement you would want to have given them, give to yourself the next time you’re questioning the projects you’re most passionate about creating.
MONTHLY REFLECTION
How well have your actions and focus been aligned with what you want to bring into your life, as a writer and in general?
JOURNAL ON IT
Set at least ten minutes aside—light a candle, procure a yummy beverage, go somewhere quiet (or put on some headphones)—and reflect on the following:
What did you learn or have a revelation about in March? How can you apply that moving forward?
What is your main focus/intention for April? How will it help you move closer to your writing goal(s)?
How do you want to feel this month? What do you want to experience?
Optional: seal your practice with a 10-minute meditation, like this guided one for self-love.
INSPIRING THINGS LATELY…
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
The Real Cost of Working Too Hard for Too Long by Ryan Holiday — A quick but powerful reminder of how important it is to know when to push yourself and when to pull back and rest. (Must-read for my fellow overachievers out there. You know who you are.)
Limitations of Self-Identity by Jason Pargin — A simple experiment reveals how much we can hold ourselves back due to a limited self-identity, and how we can tap into our true potential with one simple exercise: imagining how someone we admire would do something and then imitating them. You could try it with writing using your favorite authors (for example: how would they approach that challenging scene?).
How to Give Feedback on Writing by Bryan Sanderson — Excellent advice on how to give helpful, compassionate feedback to fellow writers from a beloved sci-fi/fantasy author.
BOOKS, PODCASTS + MORE
Your future self is NOT a “better” version of you (letting go of perfectionism in the manifestation process) by Manifestation Babe — I loved this 30-minute podcast episode from Kathrin Zenkina where she explains the key mistake many of us make when imagining a future version of ourselves. Instead of striving for a “perfect” version of yourself, understand that the future you who has achieved all your dreams is still you, only with different priorities and habits.
The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest — Filled with 365 reminders that give a voice to our deepest truths and most empowered selves, this book is the perfect antidote to the fear-fueled treadmill our intrusive thoughts tend to get caught up in. I’m halfway through and loving it. I highly recommend her other books, too, especially 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think and The Mountain Is You.
Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey — I read this book last year and it’s worth sharing again. Matthew is a natural-born storyteller who simultaneously touched my heart, made me laugh, and threw me into deep pools of existential musings with his memoir. He is entertaining while delivering genuinely inspiring perspectives and stories about life, especially for the creatively inclined. Greenlights left me with good vibes.
CHECK-IN 🦋
What will you be focusing on creatively in April? Drop your intentions/goals in the comments (and your answers to the rest of the prompts if you feel inclined) to put them out in the universe and receive support from me and the community.
There’s something about writing down our intentions and sharing them with others that helps give energy to them. (🔒 Exclusive to paid members. Upgrade to share yours, cheer everyone on, and join in on the collective energy of pursuing our dreams together 🖤)
xx
Lindsay