When I first discovered my gratitude practice, I found joy in writing because it felt good to talk about what was working for me. I experimented with other things after I discovered how profound a simple gratitude practice was for me. I thought, Well, if that new habit helped me so much, what else would make a difference?

Writing became another positive habit because it helped me remember how I felt when I used my new practices. When I shared these ideas with my life coaching clients, they loved them. They were simple and easy to understand and implement. I encouraged them to notice a shift in how things were going, how their energy felt, their moods, their approach, even their success. Happily, my clients experienced the same kind of positive transformation that I had.

Now, as a book coach, I talk to new authors about their fears and barriers; what’s holding them back from writing? Sometimes when we’re scared of a big project like writing a book, it’s easy to forget about finding joy in writing and how cathartic and creative it can be.

It helps me to write for myself first, to build my writing muscle and get me in the flow and habit of writing. Then I can write with the intention of sharing my thoughts with my readers.

Writing can bring us joy in several ways. Here are a few of my favorites, which I call the 4 C’s:

1. Curiosity Julia Cameron, Author of The Artist’s Way, made the concept of morning pages, or writing whatever is on your mind first thing in the morning, into a widely accepted practice. Approaching your morning pages with curiosity can warm up your “writing muscles.” Try writing, “What do I want to say today?” and keep your mind open. Let whatever is on your mind flow onto the page. Sometimes it’s funny, other times it’s angry or frustrated, or it can even be an old memory or a new idea. After writing your morning pages, your brain is free from whatever initial stuff that is meant for your eyes only. Then you can write out the brilliant ideas that are waiting behind that. Who knows? It might even be good enough to let other people read!
2. Catharsis Writing for yourself helps you access and strengthen what you feel and believe. Pouring out your heart on a page meant only for your eyes can be cathartic. This can help you to write from your heart for others without so much fear and vulnerability.
3. Creative Expression The way you tell your stories makes a difference in the impact they make. Without emotion, they simply relay information. Engaging your emotions and perspective makes it more compelling for the reader. Allow people to have their own reactions, whether they feel closer to you or reject your point of view. Either way, their reactions lead to connecting more deeply with themselves.
4. Connection Thinking of making your private writing public? I encourage you to share your curiosity, catharsis, and creativity with other people in a way that connects with them. Sharing your experience, feelings, discoveries, and joys with other people may help your readers discover and connect with their own. That simple act of communication brings us together as humans.

Above all, learn to write for the joy of it. Your personal writing helps make your public writing stronger. 

You Can Find Joy In Writing

Eventually, the pieces I wrote about gratitude and other life-changing habits became my first book, The Gratitude Connection. That book is full of the joy I found in discovering and writing about the practices that have helped me create a happier life. I couldn’t wait to share those concepts with other people, knowing that they worked for other people, too. 

So I invite you, when you’re scared to write or feeling a little vulnerable about it, to simply start writing and notice how you feel. Are you having any fun with it? If you’re not, try writing about something else to prime the pump. Keep it simple, and jot down a fun story that you tell in a circle of friends. Then see what happens and how you’re feeling. You may make yourself laugh at a memory or want to reach out to someone in that story. The more we exercise not only our writing muscles, but our joy muscles, the more we can continue to grow and find beauty in our own self expression and in the connection that we make with ourselves and others. It might even make us feel like writing more often… 

How do you find joy in writing? I’d love to hear from you!