Have you ever felt completely unmotivated to write?
Have you ever woken up in a funk or you had a bad day, and suddenly you just have no desire whatsoever to write?
Have you felt stuck in a rut with your writing journey?
It happens to the best of us.
Check out the Mom Writes First podcast, episode: "Lacking Motivation? Ask Yourself this Question" or check out this video here!
With my coaching clients, I've noticed that aspiring writers lose their motivation most often when life is chaotic or when they are overwhelmed and pulled in a million directions. As moms, that never happens, right? (HA!)
It also happens when they are sick, tired, and hungry. (Basic needs matter, y'all!)
Of course, under those circumstances, they have no motivation to write. Who would? They come to me, their writing mindset coach, thinking that there is something wrong with them. But their response to the situation is completely reasonable and to be expected. As they unwind their unrealistic expectations and self-judgment, the doors of self-compassion start to open. Then, they are ready to move forward.
At that point, I suggest three things:
Take care of those basic physical needs.
Make space for yourself. Breathe. Meditate. Go for a walk. Create by yourself. Make art. Try some yoga. If you're pressed for time, try some of the mini body awareness meditations that I teach.
Then, jumpstart your motivation by asking yourself this powerful 6-word question: What do you want to create?
This question, "What do you want to create?" does two important things.
It helps you identify your greater values, your purpose, and your compelling reason. this question isn't just about what you want to pen down on paper. It's about envisioning the big picture of what you aim to achieve. It prompts you to delve into the depths of your mind and identify your desires, dreams, and aspirations.
At the same time, this question helps you bring those aspirations to life, too.
On a very practical level, the question, "What do you want to create?" helps my clients envision their future, and it also helps trigger a thought process that then helps them identify what they need to do next to create that future. In this regard, this question gives my clients clarity on what to do at the moment to create their future, thus fostering a strong connection with their goals.
You can use this question to stay motivated with your writing. Think about what you want to create with your writing. What is important to you about writing? What do you want to achieve with it? What do you want to bring into your life with it? What do you want to create?
Take some time, and journal on this question.
Give yourself the opportunity, from a space of nonjudgmental, blameless discernment, to think about what it is that you truly want to create in your life with your writing.
You need to answer this question honestly. If you don't, you'll notice that it doesn't fit. It doesn't resonate, it will feel off. If that comes up, just notice it. That feeling is a signal to you that something is out of alignment with your values and what you want. That cognitive dissonance, if unheeded, will get in the way of your motivation.
If you want to stay motivated, you need to honor that dissonance. Consider what's missing from your vision of what you want to create or what you've added that isn't important to you or aligned with your values and desires.
You can create a sustainable writing habit in just 10 minutes each day by tapping into the power of motivation and harnessing it to fuel your literary pursuit. So go ahead, ask yourself, "What do I want to create?" and let the magic unfold.
Free resources:
And when you are ready to take the work deeper, contact me for 1:1 coaching, jen@momfirstcoaching.com.
