Why Writing Is A Form Of Meditation

I write because writing is how I make sense of my world. When I was eight-years-old and lived in Libya with my parents, I saw my neighbor and his four wives one evening: the wives sat in the back of his pick-up truck and the sheep sat upfront. When I asked why, I was told that the man because believed women, not sheep, were dispensable. I wrote about it. Ever since, good or bad, I haven’t known life without writing.

Writing is hard work. There are ideas. Outside influences. Untold stories. Unshared fears. A million thoughts racing through the mind. It can be a bloody torture if you don’t tame your mind.

But even on days when I question the importance of writing, I write. Those moments when I get frustrated because writing doesn’t pay well and I get tired of the hustle, I write. Moments when words betray me or the hurt from sharing stories that open up unhealed wounds gnaw at me, I take to my pen.

Writing is as important to me as breathing. And I wouldn’t have understood this connection had it not been for meditation.

Meditation calms the brain. When your nerves are relaxed and body is happy, you process information the “right” way. Because your brain isn’t reacting to outside stimulation, you are more tuned into what YOU want. And the stories you want to share, not what others think you should write about.

Writing is a form of meditation…

(1) Show up: As artists and writers, we know that showing up to our work daily helps. One word. One page. One scene. And you have a book ready eventually. Meditation works the same way. You start with a 5-minute practice. Yes, there is restlessness and fear of failure. Slowly but surely you develop a daily meditation practice. And the more meditate, the better you get at it.

(2) Let go off expectations: A few years ago, I wouldn’t be kind to myself if I had a bad writing day. I would feel like a failure. That meant I would grab that extra glass of wine or scoop of ice cream and repent it later. Because of a dedicated meditation practice now, every time that I sit on the floor cross-legged, with my eyes closed and focus on the breath, I have no idea what my experience is going to be like.

Some days, I go into such a deep state that I can’t hear a word. And then there are other days where the sound of my own breath irks me. Similarly, when I start my laptop to write, I don’t sit down to write with any expectations. I am okay with this uncertainty. The minute I take the pressure off myself, my productivity becomes higher.

(3) Devotion: Dr. Vasant Lad, the enlightened Ayurveda teacher who runs The Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, taught me the importance of devotion and morning rituals. In case you are wondering, no, you don’t have to be religious. But devotion is key to cultivating a solid writing practice. As I burn my incense and bow my head to the “guru,” teachers past and present every morning, and start to write after a short meditation, I find faith. In my devotion.

In my hard work. In the universe. In my discipline. Also, there is something humbling about bowing my head to no one in particular—just the art of writing. It’s such a candid reminder that our words and views are not bigger than the world itself.

(4) Protection: I used to be careless with my time. Being helpful is one thing; I was always available, never prioritizing, and showing up to everything. As a result, I never protected my writing time or days. To keep up with my deadlines and my personal life, I would compromise on my sleep. Doing so would negatively impact my health. For almost a year, I would contract fever every few weeks. Meditation has trained me to find stillness and not engage in the barrenness of a busy life. I don’t suffer from FOMO (fear of missing out) any longer. I am present when my friends and family need me. And I am equally present for my needs. I am able to protect my thoughts, my energy, and my writing.

(5) Art of Writing: I never meditate without setting an alarm. Because my monkey brain keeps wondering Is it time yet?I have started to implement the same philosophy with my writing.Meditation has taught me that instead of setting a word limit, I can set a time limit and write whatever comes to mind. I don’t judge or censor what I write in that time. I pay attention to my thoughts and write from a stream of consciousness space.

Without a meditation practice, we probably don’t tap into the potential of our creative juices. This month, I invite you to take out 10 minutes every day. You can sit or lie down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Don’t judge the thoughts that arise. Don’t question any feelings. Just observe.

“Writing is a very focused form of meditation. Just as good as sitting in a lotus position.” ~ Alan Moore

——xx——

BIO: Sweta Srivastava Vikram (www.swetavikram.com), featured by Asian Fusion as “one of the most influential Asians of our time,” is a best-selling author of 12 books, five-times Pushcart Prize nominee, mindfulness writing coach, social issues advocate, and a certified yoga & Ayurveda counselor who helps people lead creative, productive, and healthier lives. Louisiana Catch (Modern History Press 2018) is her debut U.S. novel. It’s the #1 new release on Amazon under women’s divorce fiction and featured on U.K.’s list of “Books to Read in 2018.”

Born in India, Sweta spent her formative years between the Indian Himalayas, North Africa, and the United States collecting and sharing stories. She writes hopeful stories about multiculturalism and women’s issues with a healthy dose of suspense, reflection, wellness, and food. Sweta, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, amongst other publications, across nine countries on three continents, is an award-winning writer and graduate of Columbia University. She lives in New York City with her husband and in her spare time, teaches yoga to female survivors of rape and domestic violence.

Web: http://www.swetavikram.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Words.By.Sweta

Email: sweta@swetavikram.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/swetavikram

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/swetavikram

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swetavikram

About LOUISIANA CATCH

Ahana, a wealthy thirty-three-year-old New Delhi woman, flees the pain of her mother’s death and her dark past by accepting a huge project in New Orleans, where she’ll coordinate the Annual Women’s Conference to raise awareness around violence against women. Her half-Indian, half-Irish colleague and public relations guru, Rohan Brady, who helps Ahana develop her online presence, offends her prim sensibilities with his raunchy humor. She is convinced that he’s a womanizer. Meanwhile, she seeks relief from her pain in an online support group, where she makes a good friend: the mercurial Jay Dubois, who is also grieving the loss of his mother. Her work in the U.S. and the online medium brings the two men into her life, and Ahana learns that neither is what he seems. With their differing sensibilities on a collision course, Ahana finds herself in a dangerous situation—and she discovers a side of herself that she never realized she had.

Louisiana Catch is an emotionally immersive novel about trust and who we project ourselves to be in the world. It’s a book about Ahana’s unreliable instincts and her ongoing battle to determine whom to place her faith in as she, Rohan, and Jay shed layers of their identities.

As Ahana matures from a victim of domestic sexual abuse into a global feminist leader, she must confront her issues: both with the men in her life and, ultimately, with her own instincts. Whom can she rely on to have her best interests at heart?

 

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