Kind Words - Mindset Tip #8

Nurturing Creativity and Compassion in the Writer's Life

Photo Credit: Kayla Willis

As we close out the year and this series on kindness tips, let’s take a moment to reflect on all we’ve explored—celebrating small wins, embracing rest, and practicing perspective kindness. This final week, we’ll turn inward with one of the simplest yet most profound acts of kindness: writing a letter to our creative selves. The end of the year can feel like a time of reckoning, filled with resolutions and goals for the future, but it’s also an opportunity to pause and recognize how far we’ve come. Research shows that self-compassion fosters resilience and creativity, helping us move forward with greater confidence and joy. So, before the year slips away, let’s honor the journey we’ve taken, offering ourselves the encouragement and understanding we so often give to others. Let’s finish the year with kindness—toward ourselves.

Write a Kindness Letter to Your Creative Self

Reflect on your creative journey and write a letter to yourself offering encouragement, understanding, and kindness. Acknowledge your efforts, forgive any perceived setbacks, and remind yourself why you embarked on this path. This act of self-compassion can be a powerful tool in staying grounded and motivated.

Let’s Play: The Time Capsule Letter

Imagine you’re creating a time capsule for your creative self, not just to capture this year, but to remind your future self of the nuances of being a creator in this moment. Write a letter addressing these reflective prompts:

1. What unexpected moments or detours shaped your creative work this year?
   Reflect on the surprises—both delightful and challenging—that nudged your creativity in new directions.

2. What invisible work did you do that deserves recognition?
   Consider the behind-the-scenes effort: the notebooks filled with half-ideas, the hours spent revising, or the courage it took to start something new.

3. What is one truth about your creative self that you rediscovered or learned this year?
   Focus on a deeper insight, whether it’s a writing habit that works for you, a theme you’re drawn to, or the realization that some pauses are part of the process.

4. What small artifact or symbol from this year’s creative journey would you include in your time capsule?
   Imagine enclosing an object that represents your work—a metaphorical “keepsake” to remind your future self of this moment.

When you finish, fold the letter or save it digitally, pairing it with a drawing, photo, or snippet of your writing that captures the spirit of this year. Set a reminder to revisit it next year, and trust that your future self will appreciate the care you took to preserve this moment in your creative journey.

---

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!