Chatty Chums’ Post

In our field of work, we know the importance of crafting stories. But sometimes we forget that the most important stories to craft are the ones we tell ourselves. Here's a story about the stories I'm looking to craft for myself and how I'm thinking of doing so. As always, thoughts, comments, questions and links to new food for thought are welcome! (and yes, i'm back writing my substack 🤞🏼 )

04. Establish a creative practice "We often think that resolutions involving creativity must include concrete products – 'I will paint every week' or 'I will write a draft of my novel.' But the creative process itself can have the most profound effect. The “Morning Pages” writing practice was first described by Julia Cameron in her book 'The Artist’s Way,' published in 1992, and this seemingly simple writing exercise has transcended its somewhat New Age roots to become beloved by creative people worldwide. "The premise is to write three longhand pages every morning on whatever comes to mind – even if it might be nonsense. Now Cameron’s more recent book, 'Living The Artist’s Way,' offers a deep dive into her final tool, writing for guidance, which involves writing out specific questions and then the answers that come to mind. Both techniques can help make us aware of previously unconscious knowledge, desires and worries." Enjoy the article, and then head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of the "I Love To Write Day Creative Writing Journal" that was published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of I Love To Write Day, a grassroots campaign to have people of all ages spend time writing every November 15th. It contains 30 Creative Challenges, plus tips from 87 experts from all around the world on how to be more creative. For more info about ILTWD, visit ilovetowritedaydotcom. Keep writing, and NEVER give up! "When people become stronger writers, they become better communicators...and everyone wins!" https://lnkd.in/e8xuXtQM

I recently started writing on Medium and I’d like to share this article about the way we live our lives and the daily choices we make (consciously or not) If you like it, feel free to share with others!

I'm going to kick things off by addressing a common stigma: the idea that letting go is akin to being 'soft.' It's a notion that's been around for a while, and I want to explore just what's behind it. You're going to find out about the various misconceptions that surround the idea of emotional release and why society might have got it all wrong. What I'm here to help you with is understanding that letting go isn't a sign of weakness, in fact, it requires a significant amount of courage. The belief that those who show their emotions or move on from conflicts are somehow lesser is a harsh judgment steeped in cultural stereotypes. In my opinion, this is more about tradition and less about what actually constitutes personal strength. This isn't just about unlearning age-old myths; it's also about embracing a broader and healthier perspective on what it means to be emotionally intelligent. And guess what? Research is increasingly supporting the idea that letting go can be an indicator of emotional sophistication and resilience. All this talk of emotional intelligence and misconceptions sets us up perfectly for the next part, where we delve into the psychology of letting go https://amzn.to/4a3VVTi

When you're focused on building your career, it often feels like there's never a good time to pursue your passion. So, I decided to dive into mine at what seemed like the worst possible moment—right in the middle of launching my business. But what I’ve learned is that the perfect moment might never come. So, I am starting now. I always liked reading books. I always liked talking about them. And when I followed higher education in humanities, a choice of passion, I discovered that I also enjoy writing about them.  My passion for literature proves invaluable in my line of work. As a content writer and communication specialist, I turn to the masters of storytelling for guidance, advice, and original ideas. They’ve crafted narratives that resonate deeply, showing us countless ways to tell a single story and evoke emotions.  But work can never replace passion. That's why I started the Dead Writers Society, a book club and a blog dedicated to exploring the works that exist in our imagination, whether we have read them or not. We are meeting on a Friday evening, August 2, at the local library to talk about one of my favorite writers, Edgar Allan Poe. Reading "The Fall of the House of Usher" and "The Purloined Letter" was, as always, an uncanny experience, and I enjoyed translating my reading experience into a blog post. Feel free to take a look or join us at De Witte Dame on August 2. And if you’re looking for content or a website that speaks directly to your audience, let’s connect. #Passion #Literature #ContentWriting #Community

Here is English version of my latest post. I welcome everyone who wants to join my journey in between words, thoughts and places! #writing

Have you heard or tried morning pages? One of my favorite ways to start my day is to spend 15-20 minutes free writing in my journal. The key is giving yourself full permission to express any and all thoughts and feelings without judgement. No inner critic and no inner editor!! When we slow down our thoughts to match the speed of writing, our inner wisdom has more space to come forward. Journaling, in my experience, is one of the most powerful tools for self-reflection and personal growth. It's a way to gain clarity and insight into our inner world—our behaviors, patterns, and reactions. The transformation is remarkable. Feelings of stress or confusion can clear as we transform our worries or anxiety into words on the pages. It’s magical how something that feels like a big problem in my life when I first sit down to write, gets broken down into manageable pieces when I give myself space to feel and express all my thoughts and feelings about it. Sometimes, it helps to have a prompt to kick off our creative expression or direction to explore and then allow whatever wants to come from there. Here are some of my favorite ones to start with, and I’d love to invite you to add any you like in the comments below: I am grateful for . . . because. . . What I am trying to avoid is . . . What I feel most passionate about right now is . . . My heart longs for more . . . #journaling #therapy #selfreflection #emotionalwellbeing #stressrelief #personalgrowth #mindfulness #creativeexpression #writingcommunity #mentalhealth #selfdiscovery #journalprompts #healingthroughwriting #expressyourself #writetoheal

An article I’ve written on Medium about the concept of past lives and its different portrayals in media✨ #writing #creativewriting #media #writer #medium #contentwriting

Recommended Read

Does a universal formula for happiness exist? Here’s a list of three articles I found intriguing this week, perfect for a reflective Saturday morning coffee read 𝟭. 𝗙𝘆𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘆𝗲𝘃𝘀𝗸𝘆’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗿 𝗖. 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 I try to read classic literature every year, and last year, I tackled The Brothers Karamazov. While I probably didn’t grasp every nuance, this article gave me a fresh perspective on Dostoyevsky’s reflections on happiness. According to Brooks, Dostoyevsky believed that happiness is rooted not in material wealth or external success but in spiritual and moral fulfilment. It’s a timely reminder that perhaps happiness is simpler than we make it. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d_-7fD6e 𝟮. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗟𝘆𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 In her September newsletter, Lyn Alden delves into the persistent fiscal deficits in the U.S. economy and the complexities in addressing them. She describes how fiscal dominance is shaping monetary policy and investment strategies, leading to more inflationary trends. This article highlights challenges faced by developed and emerging markets today. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dt8-PNkj 𝟯. 𝗔 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗞𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗮 Kalman Filters are crucial for improving the accuracy of measurements by combining multiple imperfect data sources. This article breaks down the math behind Kalman Filters and provides practical coding examples, making it easier for programmers to understand. Even if you’re not into sensors or robotics, the concepts here can broaden your understanding of how we manage uncertainty in data. Read more: https://lnkd.in/djTyJ2FZ