Distractions

One of the most frustratingly useful forms of procrastination that there is, distractions.  It can take on many different forms and be used for different ends, but the one result that always come through, is that it keeps you from doing what you should.  My distraction of choice you ask?  An hour of my time can easily result in over 1,000 words written, but let me just check Twitter real quick.  Alright I have my laptop set up, my chai tea ready and my notes at my side...ooh, Pinterest.  Tumblr...Facebook...

We've all been there, and what makes it even more difficult is that I end up finding a lot of inspiring things on Pinterest, Instagram, etc. but 9 times out of 10 it is quite simply what we in the counseling world call an Avoidance Pattern.  I know, fancy huh.  Avoidance patterns are easy to understand because it's not some deep seeded pathological disorder.  It's something we all do.  It's something I'm doing at this very moment, writing on this blog instead of working on the #secretproject.  With that said, my job is to examine these patterns and point out what is truly being avoided and work towards either processing that with the client and helping them work to change this avoidance behavior to break through that barrier to the other side.  Now, that's all well and good when I put it into words, but well, we all know action is a different beast altogether.  So it's time for me to lay down on the proverbial couch and examine the insides...bare with me...this might get weird...actually, it will most likely get weird...honestly it's probably already there.  T = Therapist and P = Patient, here we go...

T: So Josh, time to examine.  Why is it that you are avoiding working on your project?
P: What?  I'm not avoiding working on my project, I absolutely love my project, why would I do something like that
T: True, I can see that you love it very much, yet you haven't worked on it in a week now, is there something wrong?
P: No nothing wrong, I just have a lot of stuff going on, ya know?
T: A lot going on, such as?
P: Oh, ya know...just stuff
T: Stuff that you love doing more than your project?

Truth is, even though I absolutely love my project, there are times that I need to walk away from it and let things just, simmer in the brain, but there are still other times in which I straight up avoid working on a project because of where I'm at in it, and the pivotal point of the scene I am writing.  Some people call this writer's block, and who knows, it might be.  For me though, it is more of an avoidance pattern than anything else.  Worry about the pivotal moment, so I put off writing it, justifying it by saying that I am wanting to get the scene just right, until the therapist side of me points out the truth...It's just a manuscript dummy, write it and move on.  Allow yourself to develop the story by writing through the block instead of being controlled by it.  The best thing for writer's block, in my experience, has been...drumroll please... more writing.

Allowing myself the freedom to write a horrible first draft, and letting the nature of revisions and dreaming and creativity take its place as they come.