Relaxed writing

Last weekend, I saw British rock climber, Pete Whittaker, talk as part of the Speakers From the Edge tour. He spoke about free solo climbing in Norway, which is climbing up a mountain without ropes. This seems terrifying. One mistake and it’s over. You’d think that he would be on the edge of his nerves for the entire thing. But what surprised me was that he talked about cultivating two states of mind during a climb like this:

a) a relaxed mind - most of the climb needs to be done in a relaxed way otherwise if he is too edgy or pumped, then this is when mistakes happen. He has been climbing since he was a child. He knows the route he’s chosen is well within his comfort zone and ability level and he prepares in advance by thinking through everything that could happen on the way and visualises a positive outcome.

b) an engaged mind - he can’t stay engaged and focussed for the entire length of the climb which takes hours so he practises staying relaxed but then switching into an engaged mind for the parts that are a bit tricky and need extra concentration.

This inspired me in relation to writing. I have written before about creative fears as well as about anxiety and creativity, as it seems that when I sit down at my desk to write, I have a million thoughts running through my head. Not only about what I’m writing but about whether it’s any good, whether I can say this thing or that thing, and whether I have enough time to get to where I want the work to be.

So, as I prepare to return to my creative work next week for the next phase of Moonpause, the most important thing I want to practise is to stay relaxed with the work and to trust the process as I’m often telling people in my workshops!