Originally published in univisionnoticias.com (automatic translation)
What if I told you that writing three pages a day, first thing in the morning, using the method I explain below could work just as well as going to therapy? Putting down on paper what’s on your mind—from the most mundane worries to your greatest desires—has a powerful therapeutic effect.
Of all the self-help tricks I’ve tried or written about over the years, I’d highlight morning pages. I’ll admit it’s not for everyone, but if you can overcome your reluctance, it can be a turning point in your life.ida.
The method, created by creativity guru Julia Cameron, is disconcertingly simple. To get started, you need almost nothing: you can invest in a notebook and a pen or fountain pen that you like (my preference), but it’s not necessary. The simplest version only requires three blank pages (letter-sized) and a regular ballpoint pen.
What does it consist of? Every morning, as soon as you get up (in my case, while I’m having a cup of coffee), write three pages, nonstop, about anything that comes to mind. If you don’t know what to write, write just that. “There’s no way to do morning pages wrong,” writes Cameron, who introduced the exercise in his bestselling The Artist’s Way in 1992 and revised it a few years ago in his short book The Miracle of Morning Pages.
Write about whatever comes to mind: I have nothing in the fridge; my dream is to become a trapeze artist; I wish my neighbor’s dog dead.
The what is irrelevant; what matters is the how: it must be done by hand, and it must be three-faced. You start with banalities, but if you continue, you may find nuggets of gold within yourself, or at the very least, calm anxieties or resolve dilemmas. The important thing is to continue with the ritual, without expecting any particular result.
Create a sanctuary with morning pages
You’ll soon discover that these three pages, this space, becomes a kind of sanctuary, your own therapy, a meditation. And you’ll observe how powerful it is to place yourself in the role of witness to the contents of your mind. Have you noticed how it’s always easier to see other people’s problems than your own? That’s what morning pages achieve.