Happy Friday!
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Picnics, parades, and fireworks shows are on the schedule for many this weekend. And while I am thankful for the freedoms celebrated each year on Independence Day, my thoughts returned to this week’s webinar.
Happiness is Not a Biological Imperative
During the webinar, I explained that our biological mechanism is wired for survival, not happiness. Our brains naturally notice what could go wrong. Our subconscious self focuses on problems that need solving, worries that need attention, and frustrations that demand our energy. While this instinct once helped keep us alive, it can also leave us stuck in cycles of worry, anxiety, and discouragement.
Another Kind of Freedom
But what if we could experience another kind of freedom? Freedom from the thoughts that steal our peace. Freedom from the frustrations that quietly chip away at our happiness. Freedom to dream, to create, and to write.
Of course, we can’t completely rid ourselves of negative feelings, but we can train ourselves not to let those moments ruin our day or our creativity. Here’s how we worked on this in the webinar:
We completed the Self-Acknowledgment Hug, and while we were in a calm and connected state, I asked participants to allow an image of something that had frustrated them that day to come to mind and write a word for that image in the center circle of their cluster. Remaining in that calm state we had created, we filled more circles with words for images, and then set a timer for five minutes of writing.
From Frustration to Calm
Participants shared their stories, and I noticed something fascinating. Everyone easily identified what had frustrated them that day. But once they allowed their creative unconscious to guide the writing, frustration gave way to curiosity. Curiosity became understanding. And understanding brought relief and sometimes a few laughs. Here are a couple of examples:
Beth’s word was bread. She was frustrated because the loaf she’d been counting on for a quick sandwich before the webinar had molded. But she soon realized the story wasn’t about bread at all. It was about how easy it is to be so busy caring for everyone else that we forget to care for ourselves.
Susan expressed her frustration with AI and how it’s part of almost every aspect of our lives, from phone calls to the internet to placing orders. Her story included Boris and Natasha, a bomb, and a clever way to rid herself of AI altogether. Writing provided her an outlet to creatively deal with her frustration. Relief immediately followed.
Other stories included a child moving out, starting a new job, and having too much clutter. All were relatable, and all were stealing happiness. And for writers, and most others, it’s difficult to create, solve problems, or simply enjoy life when we’re living in a state of frustration.
What Writing Gives
But writing offers us a gift. It doesn’t erase life’s frustrations. Bread still molds. Technology still fails. Children still grow up. Clutter still waits to be cleaned. But a hug and a story give us the tools to manage the emotions and understand an underlying issue. And with understanding comes relief.
So this weekend, I hope you’ll also consider another kind of independence: the freedom to let go of the thoughts that keep you stuck. Freedom to notice something good and the freedom to imagine a different ending.
Experience it for Yourself
This week’s stories revealed that frustrations don’t have to have the final word. Sometimes all it takes is a moment of calm, a single word, and the willingness to begin writing. I hope you’ll join me on Monday, July 13, at 7:00 PM EST, and experience this creative process for yourself. You just might discover a little more freedom from frustrations and a story waiting to be told.
Reserve Your Spot!
Start Writing Now!
Monday, July 13, 7:00 pm EST
Have an hour on a Monday evening? Why not spend it discovering your creativity and connecting with a welcoming community of writers?
Perhaps you’ve been carrying a story inside you for years but have never written the first page. Maybe you’ve started and stopped so many times that even your notebook looks tired. Or perhaps you’re simply curious about writing and aren’t sure where to begin.
In this encouraging, hands-on webinar, you’ll learn simple yet powerful techniques to quiet your inner critic, let go of perfectionism, and enter a calm, creative state where ideas begin to flow naturally.
One first-time participant shared:
“The biggest struggle is getting words from my heart to the paper… and suddenly, I could write.”
You’ll leave with practical tools you can use immediately to connect with your creativity, transform everyday experiences into meaningful stories, and develop a writing practice that feels enjoyable and achievable.
Whether you’re writing your first sentence, returning to a story you’ve long wanted to tell, or simply looking for an hour of inspiration with fellow writers, we’d love to have you join us!
The webinar fills up fast, so reserve your spot here!
Substack
Head on over to my Substack if you’d like to join the conversation. It’s a free community where I share thoughts on writing, creativity, personal growth, practical neuroscience, and the questions that keep us curious. I’d love to have you along for the journey.
As a story expert, I’ve learned that the most dangerous story is the one you don’t realize you’re living. Especially the one that tells you not to trust yourself. Self-trust isn’t something you get. It’s something you return to. And most of us lost it before we ever knew we had it.[READ MORE HERE]
Whether you’re learning to write, exploring your own story, or simply looking for a great read, consider my books that offer inspiration for every stage of the journey. From practical guides that have helped thousands of writers discover their voice to fiction and personal growth books that entertain and inspire, there’s a book waiting to meet you where you are today.
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