Workshop:
Six Conversations for Writing Creative
Journals
“My
desire to make art is not so much a feeling as it is a decision. I choose to
continue in spite of my ineffectiveness. I try to do something—anything—to
force myself to continue. It doesn’t have to be successful.” Gaylen Stewart
Definition
One thesaurus gives this list for the word
work: “Labor, toil, drudgery, exertion, slog, effort, industry, service, grind,
sweat, elbow grease, and travail.” They all seem pretty negative to me. Why is
that the instinctive perception of work’s process? Where do ideas such as gratifying, exciting,
fun, explorative, and satisfying fall into the overall definition?
Based on your own experiences, write a brief paragraph on your personal
definition of work, whether paid or unpaid, considering both positive and
negative emotions and choices. Then consider a recent project you’ve undertaken
and see if your actions actually lined up with your definition.
Then reflect, if someone were to ask you
how you would define your life’s work—how would you answer, or how would you
like to be able to answer? Is there any discrepancy for you between the
expectation of work and the actual experience?
Success
How might Stewart’s above comment also influence
our focus regarding our choices?
Consider that any applications of the way we
designate work can impair or increase our quality of success. Or our definition
of failure?
If we love to cook, and try out a new recipe
making some alterations, and it turns our to be terrible what response defines
our “work” attitude? Laughter—grateful we weren’t feeding others—a challenge to
find a solution—annoyed and smashing the mess into the garbage?
A chef takes hours to have her masterpiece
eaten within an hour. At that same meal an excellent bottle of wine may be
emptied too, one product/project completion of a vintner’s years of labor.
When we have a grasp on the expectations of our
internal work thermometer it helps us to prepare. Whether assigned projects or
not we can choose how we process the actual stages and identify the desires
that lead to an end we consider valid. And discover the sync between heart,
soul, and head for the long haul.
Action
Steps:
1. Do a ten-minute
free-write about all the projects you need, and/or want to do? Just write it
all down without stopping or thinking or watching sentence structure. Set a
timer so you don’t need to clock watch.
2. Now go back
through and separate your list out into which are short-term and which are
long-term, or ongoing lifetime. Color-code each section.
3. Is one color
overpowering the others? Why?
4. Add another
color by marking the ones in each category that fill your heart and soul and
don’t feel like work.
5. If any are
missing this last color, how can you infuse that work with a sense of purpose?
Share: Did the
strongest color match your strongest work desires?
Read deep, marcy
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