Why wanting to write isn't always enough
I see you. I know you. I am you.
To the one who is trying,
I’m fortunate to work with man
y as a coach and facilitator, and I often hear well-meaning proclamations like:
“I want to write, I just don’t have time,”
or
“One day I’m going to have a writing practice.”
Life is full and complicated. And let’s be honest—who are we to take the time and energy to nourish ourselves through writing?
Who are we to carve out quiet moments to sit with our thoughts, our emotions?
Who are we to say “this matters”—and then act like it does?
I get it.
Years ago, I took a poetry workshop with a poet I deeply admire (I won’t name-drop, but if you ask, I’ll tell you). I asked him for his advice.
He said: “Write every day.”
I’d heard that before. It makes sense—if you want to develop something, you give it your daily attention. It becomes a practice, not just a thing driven by fleeting inspiration.
But here’s the truth: I don’t write poetry every day. And if I’m honest, I’m not working on the novel daily either.
Still—I write every day.
Sometimes it’s journaling. Sometimes it’s morning pages, where I let myself dream. Sometimes it’s drafting a letter for this space. Whether for ten minutes or a few hours, I show up—to the page, to the screen, asking it to speak back to me.
And it does.
Most of what comes out is just for me.
Writing for public consumption isn’t my top priority.
Writing as a companion on this journey is.
What is your motivation?
What is your passion? Your love? Your devotion?
Maybe it’s your work or your family. Maybe your health. Your healing. Your recovery.
The beauty is—writing can fit into that.
It doesn’t have to be a choice.
But it does have to be more than a wish.
Because here’s the thing—
We will always be where we are… until we change our mind and our nervous system.
We stay where we are comfortable, even when we say we’re ready for change.
But there is a way forward—one word, one page, one moment at a time.
I’ve created a few gentle, soulful tips for returning to the page—even in the midst of real life.
If you’re a paid subscriber to The Soul Letter, you can read them below.
Not a subscriber yet? You can become one for just a few dollars a month and receive letters like this—plus ritual practices, prompts, and special offerings.
Reminder: A mini-ritual, self-paced writing program I’m offering through The Word Project (free for annual paid subscribers) opens this Wednesday! If you’ve been craving a space to reconnect with your voice and let writing guide you inward, stay close. More soon.
See my list of “Six Soulful Ways to Return to the Page”…