The fourth Yama is Brahmacharya or right use of energy.
As a writer, it is essential that I am aware of how and where I am expending my energy.
If I am always looking outside myself at views and stats and likes and comments, my energy is easily spread paper thin.
My attention and focus are my main tools as a writer. They are my power. The inventors of social media understand this. It is why they have commodified our attention. It is why they use every trick in the book to keep us engaged on their platforms.
It is a constant struggle for me to moderate my use of these apps. To use them to stay informed, to stay connected but not get sucked into the black hole that they can quickly become.
Writing requires deep swaths of time and focus. Not just on the page but to really see and experience the world around me so that I then have a deep well to write from.
I need to be aware if I am directing my thoughts/energy toward self-doubt or discouragement about the state of publishing today. If so, how can I direct it back to believing in myself? To trusting that my words will find their way to the people they are meant to find.
The foods I eat, also known as energy, have an impact me. Too much sugar, not enough water, forgetting to eat or feeling too anxious to eat all leave me unfocused and restless.
Directing my energy onto the page actually begets more energy and focus. It is why I write something every single day.
Is your use of energy nourishing or draining your writing?
Comments