Cultivate more gratitude and contentment.

Writing is not some elite activity reserved for the uniquely gifted. Writing is communication, self-discovery, creativity, spirituality, and self-expression. Writing is the essential tool we use to find and practice our sense of voice. Writing is a distinctly human impulse. Why on earth should you be excluded from the practice?

I talk to people all the time who want to write their story, or even to write a book, but most of them don’t end up doing it. What they need in order to get started is simple: a little bit of direction, a lot of inspiration, and a reminder that they are the writer they know themselves to be! This book provides

To influence someone means to have a transformative effect on their lives. To be a player in their story.

Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk explores this in The Body Keeps the Score, addressing how if we only talk, we’re accessing one part of our brain, and we miss out on what the other parts of our brain have to teach us about ourselves. How do we access these other parts of our brain? Yoga, meditation, experiential therapy, neurofeedback—and of course,

What a loss it would be if all we ever did was stand back and evaluate ourselves. What a tragedy if we never just surrendered and enjoyed the miracle that we already are. Let the grace be in the writing.

In fact, the best things in life grow slowly: relationships, children, careers, the oak tree in your backyard, and your writing practice. Think of it like a garden.

One researcher speculated about why this is: “One of the main reasons for the negative effect on energy level and performance is because secrets make us feel lonely and sad. They also can make us feel more fearful, hostile, and guilty, but sadness and isolation make us more tired.”

needing to make sense of something too soon is often what keeps us stuck.