Thank you for reminding us to give ourselves permission not to like something that’s popular if it doesn’t work. I tried Morning Pages for a month now and I felt angrier and less compassionate towards myself. I switched to my old habit of journaling which involved one page of “thought dump” then dissecting what I wrote to get patterns of cognitive dissonance and adjusting erroneous beliefs. This approach helps me a lot to start “upgrading “ my thoughts Thanks again ❤
I love that! Recently, I've been doing something similar where I get out my notebook when I experience a trigger and work my way from how I'm feeling in the moment back through the roots of where that might have come from. It helps.
actually when I stopped writing them everything has gotten worse for me and I totally noticed the difference. but I love your energy so much so you've got a new subscriber!
I'm so glad they work for you! I don't think they'd be as popular as they are if they didn't make a difference for a lot of people...and I suspect (hope!) my mental health will, at some point, be at a place where they make sense again. Appreciate the subscription!
Here is what made morning pages work for me: 1. Completely letting go of sentimentalism and or ego that wants me to keep/read the pages back. 2. Writing *completely* illegibly (For when my willpower with step 1 doesnt work) 3. Writing *quickly*, unformed, unfinished words. The page after youre done should look like a four year old trying to write in cursive and should take place so fast you have absolutely no idea what it was you just wrote and wont be able to read it back even if you wanted to. 4. Of course these steps will prohibit you from reading back on the fount of outpouring wisdom, genius, and creativity that everyone else seems to be able to gain from these morning pages but lets be honest, if we're having such a problem with the pages as intended, our brains are probably too negative to ever have a single iota of positive creativity come from them, at least not for a long while.
The "writing so fast as to be illegible" trick has worked for me too. And I never, never read my journals back. There is definitely a comfort in releasing all that stuff with the knowledge and comfort that it's truly "released," not to be picked back up again.
I’ve been doing morning pages this year every day. I usually write similar things every day which are more or less positive affirmations. I have been doing positive affirmations mentally for years. I worked out a lot of negative things in my life over many years and maybe the Artist Way came to me at the right time. I think I also wouldn’t do it if I was writing negative and depressing stuff
I also believe the original intent of morning pages was simply to dump out cluttering thought so you can move on. Say you have a dentists appointment, and you need to buy things from the grocery, oh, and your kid needs you to drop off $15 at work and you need to reply to emails, and maybe you wanted to start that new diet. THESE are the kinds of thoughts you write down just to get them off your brain. Some people analyze to find patterns. But I don't believe anyone is saying you actually want to deconstruct and heal from your trauma with morning pages because the whole point is a brain dump. A brain dump clears space and makes you aware of things. And that's about it. What you do with the cleared space or your awareness of XYZ issue is up to you and your avenue of choice.
I’ve never tried morning pages, but I sometimes do the writing exercise of The Crappy Childhood Fairy. Writing all my fears in this moment, then writing a prayer to God (or the Universe) to release the fears and ask for guidance. Then burning / destroying the page. Some days it’s helpful, but other days it doesn’t really help. I‘ll trying doing it once a week, that might be a better fit for me too.
I only recently discovered The Crappy Childhood Fairy and haven't had a chance to watch her videos. I will have to make some time because she sounds right up my alley. I've been meaning to do a follow-up on this video, because I've found some more ways journaling can work for me. Burning helped a lot at first.
I just kept writing the same thing. Self pity self blame self hatred. PTSD depression anxiety where all my pages where over and over again. Plus if I skipped a day oh my the mind slapping I gave myself. Ty.
Morning pages is just a step. If you're always thinking, "I'm a terrible person" instead of giving up on morning pages, think, "What will I do about this thought? Where does it come from? How can I defeat it." It's about being aware of the habits you already have. If all you've do with morning pages is fill them up with negativity that means your mind is a negative landscape. Morning pages are a mirror to what's already in your mind. So I really don't think they were making you depressed, but more aware of your depression. Not the same thing. JMO.
Everyone is different, but over the years since I wrote my first essay about this, I’ve heard from SO many people struggling with mental health issues who found morning pages magnified their issues that I’m positive I’m not alone in this. I definitely don’t think morning pages MADE me depressed/anxious though! More, they brought traumas to the fore that I didn’t have the skill/support to deal with before I sought professional help.
I've only tried morning pages once. I'll need to keep up with writing them longer to know if they help me or not, but I censored my thoughts while writing. Not in a "repress your emotions" type of way, just rewording my thoughts to be more clear and with less distortions
I used to do Morning Pages too and I used to love them but I can’t stand to do them anymore. I quit them a few short years ago and every single time I tried to do them again, it all was an epic fail! I learned that they’re not even worth my time anymore. There’s nothing I can’t write in Morning Pages that I can’t jot down in my prayer journal…I’d rather do the whole prayer journal instead!
I'm always happy to hear that i'm not the only one. They work really well for some people, but they're not the only way! Your prayer journal is a great example.
I love your authenticity. Please email me and stay in touch. What you are saying is true. And I know those pages can be used against you to hurt you depending on another person's wrongful perception, or copyright theft. It can be very hurtful to write your truths. Burning them not only gets rid of them, but can be very healing spiritually as well.
Thanks for commenting, Lisa! I hope you don't speak from experience about someone using your personal writing against you, but if you do, I'm sending you love and healing. What a difficult experience.
@@calisongbird I read very little and it made me hurt for her. That is different from judging, but I take your point. I wish I had destroyed them, but I’m not an only child and it’s not solely my decision.
Like most routines, I find it uncomfortable when I find that I have missed doing it for the day. I guess you have to give it a try and then decide. Routines settle inside your psyche - very difficult to let go of after a while. I know what you mean with the Kraken! Don't prod the beast if you are on your own. God speed
It sounds like they work for you, which is great! It was actually hard for me to admit that they didn't for me because I LOVE the idea of that morning writing session. In my head, it's what "real writers" do. My Kraken needed a therapist first, though...a Kraken whisperer?
Curious how this is meant to work when you have children you have to organise in the morning and you aren’t a morning person so getting up earlier just to journal isn’t on your list for f things you want to do… 🤔
I am past that point in my life now, but yes, I’ve been there! You are choosing to prioritize your rest and your family right now and there is nothing wrong with that!
I noticed you omitted something important here in this video. You admitted in your blog post that you and your brother read your mother’s collection of morning pages after she died - and even worse, you judged her negatively for what she wrote. I found that deeply disturbing. Those were her most personal, intimate expressions, and you violated her privacy. And dared to judge her, which is unfair. You were never meant to read those. And yet you burn your own journal writings. A bit hypocritical, no? This highlights my own issues with journaling in general - the fear of my journals being found and read. That anecdote confirmed that my fears are well-founded.
I read very little and it made me hurt for her. That is different from judging, and I don't believe that we violated her privacy. She didn't die suddenly and never indicated in any way that she wanted her journals destroyed or left unread after she passed. It sounds like you have strong feelings around your own privacy in regards to your writing, though, and each of us has every right to act accordingly, destroying such writing ourselves or leaving behind instructions as to our wishes.
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Thank you for reminding us to give ourselves permission not to like something that’s popular if it doesn’t work.
I tried Morning Pages for a month now and I felt angrier and less compassionate towards myself.
I switched to my old habit of journaling which involved one page of “thought dump” then dissecting what I wrote to get patterns of cognitive dissonance and adjusting erroneous beliefs. This approach helps me a lot to start “upgrading “ my thoughts
Thanks again ❤
I love that! Recently, I've been doing something similar where I get out my notebook when I experience a trigger and work my way from how I'm feeling in the moment back through the roots of where that might have come from. It helps.
@@fromjenn I am so sorry to hear that.
actually when I stopped writing them everything has gotten worse for me and I totally noticed the difference. but I love your energy so much so you've got a new subscriber!
I'm so glad they work for you! I don't think they'd be as popular as they are if they didn't make a difference for a lot of people...and I suspect (hope!) my mental health will, at some point, be at a place where they make sense again. Appreciate the subscription!
Here is what made morning pages work for me:
1. Completely letting go of sentimentalism and or ego that wants me to keep/read the pages back.
2. Writing *completely* illegibly (For when my willpower with step 1 doesnt work)
3. Writing *quickly*, unformed, unfinished words. The page after youre done should look like a four year old trying to write in cursive and should take place so fast you have absolutely no idea what it was you just wrote and wont be able to read it back even if you wanted to.
4. Of course these steps will prohibit you from reading back on the fount of outpouring wisdom, genius, and creativity that everyone else seems to be able to gain from these morning pages but lets be honest, if we're having such a problem with the pages as intended, our brains are probably too negative to ever have a single iota of positive creativity come from them, at least not for a long while.
The "writing so fast as to be illegible" trick has worked for me too. And I never, never read my journals back. There is definitely a comfort in releasing all that stuff with the knowledge and comfort that it's truly "released," not to be picked back up again.
I’ve been doing morning pages this year every day. I usually write similar things every day which are more or less positive affirmations. I have been doing positive affirmations mentally for years. I worked out a lot of negative things in my life over many years and maybe the Artist Way came to me at the right time. I think I also wouldn’t do it if I was writing negative and depressing stuff
I’m glad to hear you find them helpful! Keep doing what works!
I also believe the original intent of morning pages was simply to dump out cluttering thought so you can move on. Say you have a dentists appointment, and you need to buy things from the grocery, oh, and your kid needs you to drop off $15 at work and you need to reply to emails, and maybe you wanted to start that new diet. THESE are the kinds of thoughts you write down just to get them off your brain. Some people analyze to find patterns. But I don't believe anyone is saying you actually want to deconstruct and heal from your trauma with morning pages because the whole point is a brain dump. A brain dump clears space and makes you aware of things. And that's about it. What you do with the cleared space or your awareness of XYZ issue is up to you and your avenue of choice.
I think you’re right on that. A trauma-wired brain doesn’t always work that way, though!
I’ve never tried morning pages, but I sometimes do the writing exercise of The Crappy Childhood Fairy. Writing all my fears in this moment, then writing a prayer to God (or the Universe) to release the fears and ask for guidance. Then burning / destroying the page. Some days it’s helpful, but other days it doesn’t really help. I‘ll trying doing it once a week, that might be a better fit for me too.
I only recently discovered The Crappy Childhood Fairy and haven't had a chance to watch her videos. I will have to make some time because she sounds right up my alley. I've been meaning to do a follow-up on this video, because I've found some more ways journaling can work for me. Burning helped a lot at first.
I just kept writing the same thing. Self pity self blame self hatred. PTSD depression anxiety where all my pages where over and over again. Plus if I skipped a day oh my the mind slapping I gave myself. Ty.
YES! Same!
Why didn’t you change to writing positive things?
Morning pages is just a step. If you're always thinking, "I'm a terrible person" instead of giving up on morning pages, think, "What will I do about this thought? Where does it come from? How can I defeat it." It's about being aware of the habits you already have. If all you've do with morning pages is fill them up with negativity that means your mind is a negative landscape. Morning pages are a mirror to what's already in your mind. So I really don't think they were making you depressed, but more aware of your depression. Not the same thing. JMO.
Everyone is different, but over the years since I wrote my first essay about this, I’ve heard from SO many people struggling with mental health issues who found morning pages magnified their issues that I’m positive I’m not alone in this. I definitely don’t think morning pages MADE me depressed/anxious though! More, they brought traumas to the fore that I didn’t have the skill/support to deal with before I sought professional help.
I've only tried morning pages once. I'll need to keep up with writing them longer to know if they help me or not, but I censored my thoughts while writing. Not in a "repress your emotions" type of way, just rewording my thoughts to be more clear and with less distortions
I hope they work for you...they do for a lot of people!
@@fromjenn thank you
Do you ever do inner child work?
Sure, with my therapist.
I used to do Morning Pages too and I used to love them but I can’t stand to do them anymore. I quit them a few short years ago and every single time I tried to do them again, it all was an epic fail! I learned that they’re not even worth my time anymore. There’s nothing I can’t write in Morning Pages that I can’t jot down in my prayer journal…I’d rather do the whole prayer journal instead!
I'm always happy to hear that i'm not the only one. They work really well for some people, but they're not the only way! Your prayer journal is a great example.
I love your authenticity. Please email me and stay in touch. What you are saying is true. And I know those pages can be used against you to hurt you depending on another person's wrongful perception, or copyright theft. It can be very hurtful to write your truths. Burning them not only gets rid of them, but can be very healing spiritually as well.
Thanks for commenting, Lisa! I hope you don't speak from experience about someone using your personal writing against you, but if you do, I'm sending you love and healing. What a difficult experience.
@@fromjenn kind of like what you did with your mother’s morning pages when you read them after her death and judged her for them? Hmm.
@@calisongbird I read very little and it made me hurt for her. That is different from judging, but I take your point. I wish I had destroyed them, but I’m not an only child and it’s not solely my decision.
Like most routines, I find it uncomfortable when I find that I have missed doing it for the day. I guess you have to give it a try and then decide. Routines settle inside your psyche - very difficult to let go of after a while. I know what you mean with the Kraken! Don't prod the beast if you are on your own. God speed
It sounds like they work for you, which is great! It was actually hard for me to admit that they didn't for me because I LOVE the idea of that morning writing session. In my head, it's what "real writers" do. My Kraken needed a therapist first, though...a Kraken whisperer?
@@fromjenn Kraken whispering sounds like the name of a website! If not, it ought to be.
@@christopherwarwick5956 It really does!
Curious how this is meant to work when you have children you have to organise in the morning and you aren’t a morning person so getting up earlier just to journal isn’t on your list for f things you want to do… 🤔
I am past that point in my life now, but yes, I’ve been there! You are choosing to prioritize your rest and your family right now and there is nothing wrong with that!
Your mileage may vary.
As with all things!
⚔️🐉
I noticed you omitted something important here in this video. You admitted in your blog post that you and your brother read your mother’s collection of morning pages after she died - and even worse, you judged her negatively for what she wrote. I found that deeply disturbing. Those were her most personal, intimate expressions, and you violated her privacy. And dared to judge her, which is unfair. You were never meant to read those.
And yet you burn your own journal writings. A bit hypocritical, no?
This highlights my own issues with journaling in general - the fear of my journals being found and read. That anecdote confirmed that my fears are well-founded.
I read very little and it made me hurt for her. That is different from judging, and I don't believe that we violated her privacy. She didn't die suddenly and never indicated in any way that she wanted her journals destroyed or left unread after she passed. It sounds like you have strong feelings around your own privacy in regards to your writing, though, and each of us has every right to act accordingly, destroying such writing ourselves or leaving behind instructions as to our wishes.