In yoga, we talk a lot about a sense of just “being,” of just being present in the moment. Letting the thoughts and emotions rise up and fall like waves against the shore. And not having stories or expectations about the moment, but just observing. Setting a writing intention is another way to help you on your journey.

The idea of just being is difficult for me. I’m genetically and behaviorally trained to plan everything. To try to figure out what’s a good thing and what’s bad, maximizing the good, minimizing the bad. Every movement, every word, every second of every day must be towards some “goal” or “objective.”

That pressure is what drove me to “snap” during my quarter life crisis, and I’m starting to see that same level of pressure in the publishing aspect of writing. I’ve talked a lot about the two “people” in my mind, and how each “person” takes a piece of the business. Suni takes care of the writing and the personality. Whit takes care of the business stuff. Unfortunately, Whit has been pressuring Suni to produce more, to go faster, to do more.

So far, Suni has been able to block out this pressure, and simply give Whit a pat on the head, then do whatever the hell she wants to do. She still comes through on time with whatever it is she needs to do, breezing over the finish line like a gazelle.

This is where the whole “writing intention” piece comes in. In Yoga, often we’ll set a focus for the practice. It can be either relaxing or focusing on a posture that gives you trouble. Sometimes yogis dedicate practices to others. The idea is when things are hard, you return to your purpose for being on your mat.

Obviously, a one-hour yoga session is a bit different from a writing career. But the same idea applies. Setting an intention for your writing will help you return to it when you get off kilter.

Namaste.

Do you try to let things happen as they will, or do you try to plan everything? Sound off in the comments!