Mindful Monday Checkpoint #1: Writing as Meditation

A New Weekly Post Series!

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I really hate Mondays. Like, I make Garfield look like an amateur when it comes to hating Mondays. They always hit like a ton of bricks. Suddenly I’m back into work mode, I’m overstimulated, I’m overwhelmed.

I’m wandering across documents, notes, and calendar invites wondering what any of it means or how it fits together. So, I’ve decided to try and make Monday’s a little less stressful for myself, and hopefully, for all of you as well.

Mindful Mondays will be here each week to offer you a digital checkpoint. A place to stop, take a breath, and reflect with me on some profound stuff. It’s a place to share your thoughts, and hopefully leave with a little more energy than when you arrived.

A Mindful Moment Goes a Long Way

I’ve always been a big believer in mindfulness as a concept. I’m by no means an expert, but I’ve been practicing it for years now, and a big part of it is being present.

That’s a LOT easier said than done, especially in today’s world.

Raise your hand if you get enough notifications per hour to make your brain start leaking out your ears.

Yeah. Me too.

We are constantly bombarded and assaulted with information, with stimuli, with stress, and all manner of other things. It’s EXHAUSTING! It’s no wonder we’re all doing the tango with burnout on a weekly basis.

And while I’m not here to say I have all the answers, I am here to say that I’d like to help. Many of you may recall my Mindful Moments I would share in my subscriber chat.

I was talking to the Prompt Goddess and my wonderful partner,

Sarah Rusch

, the other night and she asked me, “What ever happened to your Mindful Moments? I liked those.”

And it got me thinking. People did seem to enjoy those. So, with this new series, I’m hoping to expand both the discussion and the space to reach even more people.

And not only that, but I’ll summarize the discussion in my weekly podcast Saved as Draft as well (shout out to Chill Bradley!). So, with all the introductions and context out of the way, here’s your first Mindful Monday Checkpoint:

Mindful Monday Checkpoint #1: Writing as Meditation

Image: Rowen Smith via Unsplash+

Many of us use our stories and our poetry as ways to process trauma or complex emotions. It’s a powerful form of therapy, and it’s something I also do with my work. Beyond this though, how often do you journal?

If you’re like me, not much. I often say I don’t like being in my own head, but mindfulness tells us to sit with our thoughts and emotions to observe them without judgement. Ignoring them just makes the problem worse (ask me how I know!).

Here’s a quote to consider:

“Whether you’re keeping a journal or writing as meditation, it’s the same thing. What’s important is you’re having a relationship with your mind.”

- Natalie Goldberg

A relationship with my mind? Absolutely not, have you seen what I write?!

Natalie has a point, though. Writing down our thoughts and feelings, even if it’s just a stream of consciousness you’d never publish, can help. It takes the burden of those thoughts off your mind and imprisons them on the page.

There’s a reason they call them “brain dumps.” Some people like to journal and post it online so others with similar struggles can feel less alone, and that’s a totally valid approach!

Others like to keep their journals to themselves, and that’s just as valid. What matters is that you’re having that honest and real discussion with your mind and you’re giving your brain a place to leave its burdens.

Not only that, but you’re practicing mindfulness when you journal because you’re actively thinking about what’s in your head right now.

Your Turn

Now, I’d like to open this space for all of you reading this right now. What do you think about this quote and topic? Do you journal? Have you tried?

More importantly, do you like this series as a concept? As I often say, I am eternally grateful to this community and everyone in it for not only welcoming me, but for supporting me in both my highs and lows.

I want to be that support for all of you as well, and my hope is that this space and these weekly reflections can help with that. So yeah, let me know what you think, and share your thoughts in the comments.

Use this as a space to pause, to breath, and to reflect. And hey, I hope you have a good Monday, because you deserve it.

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Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing

A little something I’ve been listening to while I take a moment to relax.