Write to Negotiate the New
Hello Dear One,
This letter is short, as the past few days have been emotionally exhausting. I wrote another letter - one about loneliness - but it’s too raw to put into the universe today. It’s a big topic and I’m not sure exactly what I want to say, so I’m giving myself space.
Instead, I have a different offering, which helped me navigate the easing of lockdown restrictions this week and tune in to my emotional landscape. As a reminder, these exercises are designed to take fifteen to thirty minutes and can be used as part of a regular journalling practice, or a one-off exploration. If writing doesn’t feel aligned today simply take them as thoughts from me to you.
Continuing, then, on last week’s theme of radical honesty, I’m feeling the impact of stasis, of uncertainty, of fear. The small change we see in Scotland this week feels interminably slow. The collective discontent that some areas will open up sooner than others, seeing many rules bent and others blatantly broken and coming to terms with what has been lost is taking its toll. I’m muting social media accounts where people are at gigs and festivals in other countries, remembering how difficult I found last summer: how nothing was actually back to ‘normal’, how I kept feeling stuck rather than free. I’d established a pattern - a way to feel safe - and suddenly I didn’t know who to see after my immediate family; where to spend my time; if I could stay with friends; whether or not it was socially responsible to go out for dinner.
This undercurrent of anxiety continues to tug at me now.
So, I wrote myself a letter, drawing on my wider perspective, reinforcing what I know to be true: this will pass; I don’t have to be happy; it’s ok to take one step at a time. Writing from my future self is powerful, as I can become so consumed with how I feel in the present moment that I lose connection with the bigger picture.
I hope it helps. And if it isn’t for you today check out the archives, always there for a dip and dive.
Thanks for being here and being you. Really. And remember you don’t have to feel a certain way; all transitions are tricky, even if they’re joyful. Let your emotions come up and out, create space for them. Everything will be ok.
All love,
Jo
30 DAY COURSE: My next reflective writing course starts a week today, Tuesday 20th April. It combines guided writing sessions with daily prompts to help you quieten the inner critic, practice self-compassion, give space to your thoughts and nurture your goals. It will be the last time I run this for a while, so if you feel called sign up now.
And if this letter made a difference to you today you can share it with a friend, leave a comment, or buy me a coffee on Kofi.