Kind Words - Mindset Tip #5
Nurturing Creativity and Compassion in the Writer's Life
Last week, we explored writing with kindness. This week, let’s turn that kindness inward by giving ourselves permission to rest—a practice as vital to creativity as the act of writing itself. Rest isn’t just a break; it’s a way to recharge the mind, allowing new ideas to simmer and surface. Research shows that periods of rest and relaxation activate the brain’s default mode network, the space where creative connections are made. Yet, as writers, we often push ourselves to keep producing, fearing that stepping away might stall our progress. In reality, rest creates the fertile ground where inspiration grows. By honoring the need for pause, we nurture not only our creativity but also our well-being, reminding ourselves that creativity flourishes in rhythm, not relentless effort.
Give Yourself Permission to Rest
Writers often feel compelled to keep producing, but creativity thrives when balanced with rest. Embrace the concept of a creative “pause”—take short breaks during your writing sessions, and give yourself time to recharge between projects. Just like beats of rest in music, pauses allow ideas to form and deepen.
Let’s Play: The Silent Space Between
Find a comfortable spot and sit in stillness for five minutes, but this time, pay attention not to your thoughts, but to the “space between”—the gaps between sounds in your environment, the pause between breaths, or the quiet after a bird’s call. Let yourself sink into those silent spaces without trying to fill them.
When the time is up, write about that stillness. Was it peaceful, unsettling, or surprising? What did the quiet allow you to notice that you might have missed otherwise? Now, imagine that same quiet as a resting place in your creative process. How might it give room for a character, scene, or idea to grow in ways you hadn’t expected?
This exercise reminds you that rest isn’t emptiness—it’s the pause that allows something new to take shape.
I’d love to hear how this practice goes for you—feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!
Have a great week and Happy Writing!