Writing is a process in which we discover what lives in us. The writing reveals to us what is alive in us. The deepest satisfaction of writing is precisely that it opens up new spaces within us of which we were not aware before we started to write. To write is to embark on a journey whose final destination we do not know. Thus, writing requires a real act of trust. – Henri Nouwen
Several years ago, I participated in an interesting team building exercise while attending a workshop with other professionals in the caring professions. The leader got us to pair up with one partner standing a few feet behind the other, both participants facing forward(most of us were strangers to one another). We were told each of us would take turns falling backwards without looking back,trusting our partner to catch us.
As we waited for the facilitator’s cue to begin, one eager fella immediately dropped backwards, surprising his partner. Yes, the young man landed on his behind on the gymnasium floor, springing back up to his feet quickly with a red face, and awkward laughter filled the room.
With an acknowledging quip and a few additional words of caution, the leader redirected us back to the task at hand.
There were a few people who would not let themselves fall back into their partner’s arms, while most of us dutifully complied with the instructions regardless of feeling unsure and uncomfortable.
During my turn, I experienced a suspended moment of uncertainty as I fell back, followed by a rush of relief as I felt the warm mass of my partner’s body receive me while she secured her steady hands at my elbows and gently helped me forward to an upright position on my own two feet.
Most of us completed this exercise with a lingering sense of reassurance having experienced that our partners did quite literally ‘have our backs.’
In the same way, we are safe falling back into the arms of our muse. Writing, or any other creative act, commands a huge leap of faith from us. Repeatedly,we’re called to take the risk of being vulnerable and open, and this is the condition, the place where the muse meets us and shows us what there is to discover. Beyond the safe limits of our controlling consciousness.
We can delight in the surprise of mystifying discoveries, of the exciting rewards we receive in exchange for our trust, riches and insights we couldn’t even imagine mined from the depths of our imagination.
Do you trust your muse? Have you had the experience of new discoveries as a result of moving forward in your creative work?
“Trust the Process” is the Goddard MFA in Writing motto for a reason! The number of times I heard it while I was a student there is innumerable (or near enough), but it’s a valuable little phrase to get into your head. If you’re not going to trust what’s coming to you, you’ll never be able to write, much less revise (which is where all those second thoughts come into play). I love how you compared it to that team-building/trust exercise, because it really is the same thing!
Nancy Norbeck recently posted..Interview: Christopher Loeffler
Hiya Nancy,
I can only imagine how difficult it is to go through the revision stage (although some have claimed they find it easier than getting the first draft down!). Basically I think all of the seasons of the writing life are challenging in their own right, but with glorious moments thrown in on the days when we do trust the process, and things are aligned just right so we do experience the exhilaration and immense satisfaction…:)
Glad what I shared resonated with you. Wishing you all the best as you forge ahead bravely with your WIP(s).
What a fabulous post (even though I’m late to the party). I am always, always amazed that when I “let go” and give in to the muse, the amazingly creative results that occur – scenes that, after I’ve written them, I sit there and wonder just ‘where’ they came from … What a fabulous feeling.
This is truly quotable material: “we are safe falling back into the arms of our muse.” By the way – LOVE cinnamon. Had an orange tabby for years, and a lighter-colored male like Cinnamon growing up!
Melissa Crytzer Fry recently posted..Roostin’ & Hummin’
Hi Melissa! Thanks for the kind words; late or not, so glad you stopped by. I love that rush and surprise too when I read some of the stuff that comes out of me, truly mystifying and oh yes, very powerful incentive to continue showing up to write more hoping it happens again.
I just told Cinnamon he has a new admirer and he’s struttin’ around here all full of himself tonight
That little guy is truly a precious soul and has encouraged me more than words can say. Did you perchance notice that the background wallpaper to my website is a picture I took of his fur?
Oh, I am stuck in the mire of my “controlling consciousness” these days. This is a wonderful post, and it’s given me some much-needed inspiration. Thank you.
Lisa Ahn recently posted..Wing-Feather Fables: Hearts of the Drowned
Glad you could get some encouragement from my post, Lisa. I can only imagine what you’re going through. Still, it’s so wonderful how you’re obviously persevering with really beautiful writing to show for your determination. Here’s hoping for easier days ahead
For me, trusting the process means actively engaging in the process. If I procrastinate and don’t write, nothing happens. But if I work at my writing–even just a little, like reading over my notes or recent chapter on busy days–the muse rewards me with a constant stream of ideas and enthusiasm for the work.
Love this post. But then, I love pretty much all of your posts.
Charlotte Rains Dixon recently posted..You Can Do It!
I really like what you say here, Charlotte, about trusting being active. Like Nouwen says in that quote up at the top of my post, the act of writing reveals what is alive in us. If we stay in touch with our writing on a regular basis, then we partake in that magic and new discoveries reinforces our trust in the process. It stands to reason that we’d then have a stronger motivation to go to the page more often and be eager to return as soon as possible to it.
Thanks for the kind encouragement; you made my day. You know how much I value you and your work – I’ve learned so much from your posts
What a great post, Carole! My muse and I are getting to know each other again. We have had an on-again-off-again relationship throughout my life and she is adjusting to being with me more now but I trust her completely. I know that when I need her, she will show up at precisely the right moment. I think if my muse and I were to do the trust exercise you mentioned, she wouldn’t be directly behind me waiting but would scurry in at the last possible second to keep me from falling flat on my hiney! She makes her presence known when I need it most.
Valeka recently posted..The Great Outdoors
Nice of you to drop by here, Valeka. I can relate to the way you define your relationship with your muse as ‘on-again-off-again’. I’m personally amazed and grateful mine is still around and willing to work with me after all the years of angst, doubt, and hassle I’ve put mine through
Like Milli, I love how you tied that classic “trust exercise” into writing.
You know, there are times where I expected my muse to be there and she wasn’t. And that can feel like a form of betrayal. But, as I read this post, I now consider that maybe in those instances I’m like the guy who dove in without giving his “muse” a chance to prepare for his plunge. The exercise is two-way: one needs to be willing to fall, but the other needs to be ready to catch. Something to reflect on.
Patrick Ross recently posted..Guest Post: Honoring Your Muse
Hi Patrick,
I’d really like to know more about your experience of your muse not showing up when you expected her. Were you sitting at the keyboard and no words came forth? Or were you typing, and dissatisfied with what was showing up?
I know for myself I sometimes expect to feel the presence of my muse before I embark on my writing practice. I sat down to write this post and didn’t feel swept up or helped by the muse’s presence at all. I simply determined to not let another day go by without publishing a post; so there I was at the keyboard.
In an exchange with Milli on Twitter after I published this, she pointed out how she could see my muse’s influence ‘all over’ this piece. I realized she was right and my muse was there all along even though I presumed I was pushing out the words on my own.
Trust the process. How often have we heard that, but each time we sit down to write, we have to remind ourselves all over again. Let go. Let it happen. Just start. So interesting what shows up when we do that!
I love the same phrase Milli mentioned: “beyond the safe limits of our controlling consciousness.” Safe, but limited.
Lots of great food for thought here.
Sue Mitchell recently posted..How to Channel Your Inner Corgi
I don’t think I’ll ever grow blasé from sitting down to write and ‘watching’ words and insights flow out onto the page that totally surprise me, as if conjured by someone else (like the ‘beyond the safe limits…’ phrase lol).
I love how we all have the possibility to experience the excitement of that expansive freedom and discovery if we would just allow ourselves to fall, to venture beyond those safe limits. And still, there are many days I hesitate and doubt…
So glad you stopped by, Sue.
I’m still shivering with goose bumps at the parallel you drew between that trust exercise in the workshop (I’ve done that one too, somewhere) and trusting the creative process. What a brilliant analogy! Not just brilliant, but warm and caring.
I absolutely loved the line: “Beyond the safe limits of our controlling consciousness.” I do have huge trust with my muse and get rewarded for it aplenty. But I sometimes still struggle with my controlling consciousness. My muse gently took me on a little adventure in my journal this morning and showed me a new way I can use story writing to resolve a specific problem I’m having right now (where my “beta brainwaves” are trying to run the show). I’m planning to try it tomorrow during the 10K Day. I absolutely adore being shown treasures like these when I trust my muse to take my hand and guide me somewhere I didn’t know I needed to go.
Milli Thornton recently posted..Are You Emotionally Ready for a Critique? Two Ways to Know
Hiya Milli,
After reading your comment, I’m sitting here so grateful for my muse who summoned up that experience from oh-so-long-ago this morning as I sat contemplating that cool quote from Henri Nouwen. From there, I received the message and lesson I was being called to explore and share with you all in this blog post
Do you mean that your muse gave you the idea to write a fictional piece to work out your current problem? I think I inadvertently did that a few times several years ago, and I’m reminded of how wondrous it was in revealing so many insights which I wouldn’t have thought of at all in my controlling consciousness. Like you, I just followed where my muse was leading me, even if I didn’t quite understand where she was going with it all.
So you know what I’m talking about. Yes, I’ve done that before too – written fictional stories to work out emotions or relationships, etc. This was something different, though. If it works out as magically as it looks like it should, I’ll add something to that ebook we were discussing.
Milli Thornton recently posted..Are You Emotionally Ready for a Critique? Two Ways to Know