Ep 41: Creating with Gratitude: Morning Pages
The Creative's Secret to Starting Each Day (Part 3 of 4)
SUMMARY
Discover how the practice of Morning Pages can transform your creative process and mindset. Based on Julia Cameron's groundbreaking work, learn how this simple daily practice of longhand writing can clear mental clutter, spark creativity, and foster gratitude. Perfect for creative professionals seeking to enhance their morning routine and creative output.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
⚡️ Morning Pages - three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness writing done first thing each morning - serve as a powerful mind warm-up for creatives.
⚡️ This screen-free practice helps remove mental distractions and false narratives that can block creative flow.
⚡️ Consistent practice of Morning Pages helps maintain focus on what truly matters, surfacing forgotten priorities and creative insights.
NOTABLE QUOTES
💬 “Our brains are the most attuned and accurate and freshly rested first thing in the morning... our thoughts first thing in the morning can tell us a lot about what's going on inside of us." - Dustin Pead
💬 "You need to eliminate excuses that will keep you from becoming more grateful for all that you've been given and all the opportunities that you have to create your best work." - Dustin Pead
EPISODE RESOURCES
⚡️ Book referenced: "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron (1995)
⚡️ Subscribe to my weekly newsletter here
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome back to the podcast. I'm your host Dustin Pead, Creative Coach and Consultant. Today we are continuing our four-part series on creating with gratitude and how when we change our perspective, we can increase our creativity, raising our art to a whole new level. Today is part three on morning pages and commonplace books.
What Are Morning Pages?
Morning Pages is a journaling concept introduced by Julia Cameron in her 1995 book "The Artist's Way." It involves three pages of longhand writing - meaning you'll write with your hand and a pen or pencil, not typing. It's stream of consciousness writing, which means you're not going to think twice about what you're writing. If it comes to your mind, you write it down, without editing yourself.
Why Morning Pages Work
Our brains are most attuned and accurate when freshly rested first thing in the morning. Our early morning thoughts can tell us a lot about what's going on inside of us. There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages.
Benefits of Morning Pages
1. Mental Warm-Up
Great warm-up for your mind
Start the day without screens
Get neurons firing
Set intention for the day
2. Remove Mental Distractions
Address what Brené Brown calls "the story I'm telling myself"
Work through "shitty first drafts" of thoughts
Observe thoughts objectively
Release mental clutter
3. Focus on What Matters
Chance to reflect
Remove mental junk
Maintain focus on goals
Rediscover forgotten priorities
Getting Started
I'm going to encourage you to start this process immediately. The main thing is to eliminate excuses that keep you from becoming more grateful for all you've been given and all the opportunities you have to create your best work. Morning Pages is a great way to begin creating from a place of gratitude rather than exhaustion, frustration, or anxiety.
The Challenge
Try Morning Pages for seven days in a row. Yes, it will take effort in the beginning. Your hand might cramp, and you might question if you're cut out for handwriting anymore. Trust me - it is worth it. If you stick with it, you can see incredible results.
Looking Ahead
Next week we'll finish up the creating from gratitude series as we go into Thanksgiving. We'll focus on you, our listeners and viewers of the content, and we'll preview some things coming up in the next few months as we roll into 2024.
Visit dustinpead.com to learn more and connect with Dustin.