This Writing Practice Can Help You To Feng Shui Your Life!

Writing is one of the most potent ways to declutter and Feng Shui your life, and, as you’ll soon be assured, everyone is a writer.

Today, I am thrilled to share a guest post from a brilliant writer, book publisher, healer, and Feng Shui School of Intention member, Laura DiFranco.  I’ll turn it over to her to walk you through a writing practice that can be both creatively awakening and life-changing!

Write to Feng Shui Your Soul: A 3-Step Process for Sharing Words that Heal

I write to Feng Shui my soul, first. I prioritize my healing process above anything else I do with my writing, so the writing you (and the world) reads comes from an overflow of my energy cup, not my reserves.

“But I’m not a writer.”

So many people say this to me. The thing is, you are a writer. You’re also an artist, healer, singer, and intensely creative. Someone taught you to think you’re not or never allowed you to discover it.

The Not-Good-Enough Problem

Let’s get past this one myth first, so you can get to doing this magical healing practice I’m laying out for you. Everyone is a writer, and you’re all good enough!

If you can put pen to paper or click your keyboard, you can write. And even if, for some reason, you can’t write or type, you can most likely dictate your words into a recording device.

The problem is that you don’t think you’re a good enough writer for others. And that fear of not-good-enough is boring to me. It’s what I call a purpose-driven fear. What if the thing you’re afraid to write and share is exactly what someone else needs to read or hear to change (or even save) their life?

If you knew you’d save a life by writing your brave words, would you worry about it being good enough?

What if that ‘someone’ was you?

I don’t share all my writing. But a lot is. And I’m not telling you all your writing has to be shared or will only change someone’s life if you share it. I’m telling you that writing is a healing process for yourself and a life-changing awareness practice. This is for you, first.

Start with you. Worry about everyone else later, if at all.

My Story

“I just don’t think this is viable. I mean, your first book was okay, but this idea just isn’t going to be something that is sustainable.”

My ex was talking about my first (of five) books of poetry. I asked for a divorce for a few reasons. Two of which went something like this in my head: You’ll never live your dream without creating misery in this relationship. I’m going to publish this book with or without you.

 I went on to publish ten total books (so far) and, as a company, have published more than 50, all Amazon bestsellers and some of which have won awards.

I’ve been journaling since I was 15. I started blogging in 2008. I self-published my first solo book in 2012. I’ve posted viral blogs, published several magazine articles, and been quoted in places like Glamour.

It took me into my fourth decade of life, twenty years of marriage, and a brutal aha moment that I resisted for five years to decide I was good enough to pursue my dream.

Writing moved me through everything, helped me connect to what matters, and helped me stay aware of the importance of my desires, dreams, purpose, and goals.

The awareness I’ve gained by connecting to something bigger than me and journaling those messages has been life-changing.

I now use that channel to write and share for others. This blog is a product of that connection, passion, and practice.

The Writing Practice

Here are three steps to get started with (or evolve) your practice of writing to Feng Shui your soul:

Step One: Get still and breathe

The first thing I do is practice body awareness. It’s the present-moment awareness that connects me to something bigger. If you don’t have a meditation practice, or this idea brings up some resistance, know it’s not complicated. Just get still and quiet and listen to the sensations in your body for five minutes. Feel the breath moving in and out of your body. Be curious. Relax. Soften a bit.

Step Two: Write what you feel

This sounds simple, but so many people get to the step of putting pen to paper and immediately experience what they feel is writer’s block; it astounds me. I know it’s not simple when your habits and thinking patterns get in the way. But writer’s block is BS. It happens when you leave your body and end up in the ruminating mind, listening to that noise and overthinking everything.

Drop back down into your body, deep into your pelvic bowl. Take a few rib-expanding breaths. Clear your mind. Soften on the exhale. Set a timer for five minutes and fill in the blank: I feel _____. Write as fast as you can without censoring yourself. Don’t worry about punctuation, grammar, or editing. No rules; just write. Be curious. Be open. This is for no one but you.

Step Three: Read it out loud to yourself

The writing is part of the awareness, as is the body awareness, but reading your words aloud to yourself is part of the healing. When words move out of you, from your heart to the pen to the page, you see them in black and white. You create a space between you and the words, allowing you to observe the process. Sometimes I read what I wrote and think: Whoa, do you really believe that?

The next step is reading them out loud to yourself. This is also the best self-editing tool you’ll ever use. When you put the vibration of your voice to the words, you become a witness to yourself. You create awareness by listening to your inner self. This process may make you emotional. That’s a very good thing. Healing happens in these small moments when our soul is witnessed on the page.

Writing Tips for Sharing with Others

Ultimately it does not matter whether another soul reads your stuff. What matters is that you use the practice as a healing process. Because when you change yourself, you heal the world. That is enough. It’s a powerful process that matters.

Many of you feel the urge to share and change others’ lives with your brave words. I’m jumping up and down at the thought of that because I know the impact of your words, when you share them, is world-changing badassery.

Your words change the world when you’re brave enough to share them.

So, my tips for the bold, brave souls who are ready for this next step of the writing process:

1. Start with someone you trust and read (or have them read) it out loud.
2. Start a blog and turn off the comments. This is an excellent way to express yourself without worrying about what everyone else thinks.
3. Start to post small ideas on social media and detach from the outcome of the comments. I know this is easier said than done. Practice detaching. This will serve you forever.
4. Share with the intention of healing yourself, not for anyone liking it.
5. Share from a foundation of awareness, gratitude, kindness, and love. Always share your truth.

I’ll leave you with one of my favorite writing prompts. I hope this one will help you feel brave.

If there were no one left to offend, upset, or disappoint, I would _____.

Write your heart and soul onto the pages. Be brave!

In the Brave Healer Writer’s Circle, we get together four times a month to write and heal together. You’ll find the info here.