An Exercise in Self-Discovery: Finding Your Passion Through the Pen
By David B. Bohl | April 12, 2008 | 5 Responses
A writer instinctively knows or quickly learns that he can learn just about anything through writing about it. In his book Writing To Learn, William Zinsser says, “… we write to find out what we know and what we want to say. I thought of how often as a writer I had made clear to myself some subject I had previously known nothing about by just putting one sentence after another – by reasoning my way. I thought of how often the act of writing even the simplest document – a letter for instance – had clarified my half-formed ideas. Writing and thinking and learning were the same process.”
Not only can we learn about the outside world and complex subjects through writing, we can also look inward. Journaling is the act of putting pen to paper to learn about yourself.
I’ve kept a journal for as long as I can remember. It’s a living document, not a diary, but place to pose questions, to theorize, to create, and even to play. My journal holds the high and low points of my life. It shows what I’ve learned over the years, as well as what I’ve appreciated and what my hopes are for the future.
It’s not as structured as a habit. Journaling doesn’t have to be a daily commitment. Some weeks you may write every day, and then not again for a month or longer. The value of journaling isn’t in the frequency of writing, but the process of discovery.
Stacie turned to journaling after being let go from a job she hated. On one hand she felt rejected and hurt to be handed her pink slip; but on the other, she was relieved to be free. Stacie didn’t want to repeat this job experience. She wanted to be satisfied with her work and enjoy the people she worked with. Instead of looking for the next available employment, she sat down with pen and notebook and started to write.
At first, angry words filled the page. She deserved so much better. As she wrote, anger gave way to wondering what a better job might look like. Days later, feeling much better about the situation, she began pondering what elements she liked from previous employment. As she jotted down job responsibilities from a 15-year work history, one thing stood out like a beacon. The writing and creating were the best parts! Stacie left customer service work behind and never looked back. Journaling helped her discover that she was a writer at heart.
Find yourself a good spiral-bound notebook. I’m partial to the spiral on top so that it doesn’t interfere with how my hand rests on the page. Add a pen that feels good in your writing hand. Scrawl a date across the top, and just start writing. Let your heart lead the way.
What will you discover about yourself this year?
Copyright 2008 David Bohl and SlowDownFast.com. All rights reserved.
About the Author:
Husband, father, friend, Life Coach and Lifestyle Designer David B. Bohl is the creator of Slow Down FAST at www.slowdownfast.com.
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Categories: Life Coach, Slow Down Fast, Life Coaching, Personal Development, Motivation, Your Passion, Fulfillment, Inspiration, Values
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5 Responses to “An Exercise in Self-Discovery: Finding Your Passion Through the Pen”
Comments
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April 12th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Great post. I wish more sites pushed towards getting people to realize the direct link that exists between pen and brain. Some of my thoughts:
- There’s so little distraction compared to computer use (BIG ie: Internet)
- You’re not so worried about Styles, formatting, fonts, word count, program to use, incorrect spelling
- There’s more of a flow in that you can connect through each letter and word you are writing. Computer writing while faster still leaves a large disassociation between what you write
- Lastly, let’s face it, everyone loves having something real, something physical and solely their own to hold and cherish.
April 13th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Brian,
Thanks for visiting and for contributing your excellent thoughts.
David
April 14th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Writing on a notebook, with a pen, sounds like a nice sentiment. But sadly, I can barely do it anymore! It seems my neural pathways are now primed for typing. When I try to write longhand, all I get is scribble and transposed letters/words.
Wonder how long it’d take me to get my writing skills back to college note-taking speed! I guess I could practice… but it’s so much easier to tap those keys!
Great and thought-provoking post, as always.
April 15th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Dina,
I understand. Yet there are those situations where maintaining writing skills pays off. For instance, I was sitting near the pool in Ft. Lauderdale this morning. There was no outlet nearby for my laptop, and the glare from the sun (combined with my polarized sunglasses) would have made writing on my computer cumbersome. I pulled out my notebook and wnet to work, and later id the same on the packed airplane ride home this evening.
David
April 15th, 2008 at 8:12 am
Hi David,
That sounds like a great backdrop for creative flow indeed. I’d probably pick up the pen and work my way through hand cramp in that situation, too.
Right now I’m really loving my new backyard and home. I suspect that as the weather gets nicer, I’ll be out there with my notebook, re-learning my letters as I write copy for clients
Loved your “25 tips for being happy” post today.