Seeking Daily Inspiration

Source: A screenshot from the video

Watching Cheryl Strayed’s interview in Marie Forleo TV was very inspiring and motivating. We do need to listen to such powerful words every now and then, to renew our faith and belief in our own selves.

I too am a binge writer, like Cheryl. I don’t connect to my writing juices every day- so I can only write about once in a while. At all other times even if I try, the words seem forced, the writing devoid of soul, and I don’t end up feeling satisfied. But those once-in-a-while times I end up feeling relieved at baring my heart out. It feels liberating and healing. It calms. I feel gifted. I feel my presence in every word that flows out. I too once thought that this doesn’t amount to as being a writer. But thanks to Cheryl and Marie, I realized I am a writer, I truly am. I may not be a published author, or may not be monetizing much of my writing, yet I am a writer. I write and I blog and I am starting to build a new world with my words. This very thought is so empowering. Thanks Cheryl.

“Writing is like excavating. You start at the surface, then you dig- keep on digging deeper and deeper till you reach the core. It’s the same whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction.”- Cheryl Strayed
There were two questions in the interview that Cheryl uses in her writing tutorials. And these had got me thinking. I still am in a bit confused state as to how to answer these. 
  •         What’s the question at the core of your work?
  •         What question are you trying to answer for others?


While writing ‘Wild’- a memoir, her question to herself was, ‘How do I live without my mother?’ which through the process of making the book translated into a more cultural universal question for all human beings in general-“How do we live without our loved ones? How do we live with our loss?” The beauty of vulnerability and sharing what’s in your heart- your pain and triumph with the world is what a memoir entails. And in the process it provides the reader a perspective, an angle to view his own life through it. 

And this is the first time I am seeing Marie herself tearing up- getting emotional on the show, after visibly struggling to hold it in. It was moving and so inspiring. This is the thing I have been trying to explain- uncontrollable tears as a result of encountering an overwhelming inspiration, something that speaks to you truer than anything else in the world. 

Margaret Atwood said- “A word after a word after a word is power.

Source

My takeaway from this 48-minute video:

  1. When you tell your story, you focus more on what you learned through your hard times and failures than the moments of your success. Those times make you humble- the core piece of your being. Life is contradictory- it's hard and it's beautiful at the same time.
  2. What is your narrative of your story- has it changed over the years? Instead of seeking valediction from the outside, do seek it from your own core self. 
  3. Trying to accept and embrace that part of yourself that is truer yet less pleasing to others. Being able to say no to the world so that you can say yes to yourself. 
  4. Deeply invest yourself in your writing- in your dream. And know that all you can do right now is write- a page after a page after a page. And let things be. Greatness isn't in your hands.



What's the question at the core of your writing? What is it that you need answers for yourself through your creative art? What does it become in the wider perspective of things? Do let me know in the comments. Perhaps through them, I can find my own answers somewhere.

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Queeristan by Parmesh Sahani

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  Queeristan (Amazon Link) Thanks to Audible Free Trial I listened to this amazing non-fiction on LGBTQ inclusion in Indian workplaces. Author Parmesh Sahani identifies as gay Indian, working closely with Godrej higher management and employees for years to create an inclusive workplace, both legally and in spirit. This book is a result of those years of experience, research, collaboration with individuals from difference spectrum of the society and organizations who has successfully transitioned into a queer friendly one.   Indian history is inclusive. From the Khajuraho temple architectures, to Konark to the Rig Veda, there is existing proofs even 2000 years ago of Indian inclusiveness of queer. It’s the draconian British law that criminalised it, which was scraped in 2009, came into effect once again following a sad judgement in 2013 and eventually was scraped off for good in 2018. I am in awe of the lawyers who fought this legal battle- colleagues and partners – Arundhati Katju

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