The Insanely Simple Way to Find One Good Idea
How one daily journaling tactic can unleash a wellspring of good ideas.
How one daily journaling tactic can unleash a wellspring of good ideas.
This morning, as I sat with my coffee reflecting over my scribbled journaling, I noticed a recurring theme. It was something I’d never really taken the time to observe. Nor had I ever dived into the importance of this one simple practice that I was performing every morning.
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It started back in early May 2022. I’d just finished listening to the Audible book of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron*. My number one take away from the book was the practice of ‘Morning Pages’.
Morning Pages is a journaling practice of starting the day by free writing, for at least 3 pages. Simply just putting pen to paper and letting what ever needs to come forth flow forth onto the page.
I have to admit I hardly ever manage 3 pages but I do sit for at least 20 minutes and basically brain dump all nonsense out of my head.
But on this particular morning I noticed a pattern…
I’d usually start with the mundane — how I’d slept, how I was feeling in my body in the physical sense, what the weather was doing, etcetera. I might have an epic thing from the day before to memory keep, or some sort of grievance to complain about.
However, once I’d cleared out all the mental clutter and non-sense chatter, I realised an idea would normally bubble up to the forefront of my mind.
A good idea.
Just one single new way of seeing, being or doing.
It could be for personal or professional growth, family related or business related, for physical, spiritual or emotional development. The type of idea that requires breaking out a highlighter to make it stand out on the page so when you’re flipping back through your journal it jumps off the page.
It was of course the daily use of highlighting that made it super easy for me to spot the pattern. And that’s when I got thinking — why is that?
Why is the daily habit of ‘Morning Pages’ causing good ideas to come from seemingly nowhere?
The answer is simple, you may have spotted it for yourself already as I have written it quite plainly above. The reason that this insanely simple practice births one good idea every day is this:
When we clear out the mental chatter of the mundane we create space for good ideas to be born. But it’s not just space for the idea to have room to be created, it’s also the clarity to be able to see and hear it, to envision it fully in your mindscape.
This quote from the book The Artist’s Way* sums it up beautifully:
“When people ask, “Why do we write morning pages?” I joke, “To get to the other side.” They think I am kidding, but I’m not. Morning pages do get us to the other side: the other side of our fear, of our negativity, of our moods. Above all, they get us beyond our Censor. Beyond the reach of the Censor’s babble we find our own quiet center, the place where we hear the still, small voice that is at once our creator’s and our own.”
― Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity*
So, next time you’re struggling to get to the other side, to break free from the paralysing effects of a blank page when you’re desperately trying to come up with one good idea - try ‘Morning Pages’. It will change your life.
For more helpful, planning, productivity and creativity tips visit my website.
Until the next read…
Chloe
* Please note: I found this book through my own research and personally purchased it for my own use before writing this blog post, but as an Amazon Associate I earn from any qualifying purchases you may make after clicking these links.