Undoing
MY Silence
From
the text, Undoing the Silence, we are
offered up some advice in how to access the powerful voices that we all have inside.
One issue that many of us face in accessing and sharing this voice in writing is
avoidance. We hear that “most people will do just about anything but sit down
and write” (Dunlap, 2007, pg. 27). I don’t know about you but I was glad to
hear that. Recognizing that this is part of the process for me is important.
Having to get on with it, stop procrastinating and start producing is the first
step.
Once
we do get started, (sorry I mean once I get started) something keeps me from
putting the words on the page. Our text calls it “harmful self-criticism” and I
can attest that this is REAL. As I type and delete, type and delete and type
some more before I delete opposing forces are at work. I have heard that we are
our own toughest critics. I believe that to be true. So step two, for me at
least is to work on getting rid of or reducing the static that I hear and just
let it fly! (maybe then I could get a post in on time J.
On
that note I found one of the exercises in the text especially useful. A way to
release that self-criticism is to give it a power punch to the head with some
affirmations.
I dedicate my
work to my own healing and that of my community.
My creativity
heals myself and others.
I
absolutely love those and just saying it out loud or writing it down on paper
makes it seem more real in some way. It also addresses one of the concerns that
blogging for me creates. It is ok to be about ME. My work and my creativity
helps me work on ME and MY issues. It is all about ME ME ME ME ME ME and of
course you. That is somehow very freeing. Knowing that as I concentrate on my
healing and creativity it also helps others. How can I be a part of a caring
practice and work without working through the issues that I have. Working on ME
is not as selfish as I thought.
If
you got through this post, congratulations you made it and YOU are wonderful.
I can relate to the difficulty of sitting down and focusing on writing, sometimes it is so difficult. For some reason this semester I am feeling like there is somewhat of a shift for me however. On one hand, I am more relaxed with my role as a student and can just decide to 'write something' without having as much anxiety about the work. On the other hand, I feel overwhelmed, and feel like I am barely making deadlines...and sometimes not.
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me laugh Levi, I am "power-punching" my inner critic as I type and rev up for the 2 assignments I am about to pump out today. As well I am so greatful that you chose to write about you and you and you, because as I was writing my post I was thinking you selfish "B" all you write about is you...I just power punched her in the face it was a K.O. and now after reading your post I am going to keep writing about me and then write about me some more and me just a little bit more so that like you said I can work on me. Believe me she needs some work, so you will be hearing a lot about me!! I love hearing about you, thanks for the laugh again.
ReplyDeleteI am my own worst critic, I admit. I have kept myself in a box of many years and it took good people around me (that I have chosen to be in my life) to help me obtain clarity on what matters to me. I DO MATTER! I have had to learn to let go of the things that serve no purpose in my life and one of those 'things' is my self-criticism. Another is learning to say and write about what is important to me; what my thoughts are-and that I do have an opinion and I can express it! This journey is not only about obtaining my MSW degree, it is about self-exploration and opening a new chapter in my life. I am grateful to have others sharing the journey. Great job being you Levi!
ReplyDeleteHAHA Levi I love you oops did I say it out loud. I just know I came up with some positive affirmations I want to share also
ReplyDeleteI will be more open and honest with my writing and reflecting some meaningful feelings. I will try and dig deep and put more color and emotion into my writing. I want people to want to read my writing and find interest in it. Thanks for letting me free myself and sharing my affirmations!!
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