Unlocking Creativity: The Power of Morning Pages
“I want to be more creative and at ease in my work”
This statement echoes the voices of many leaders I speak with, myself included. The struggle between perfectionism and big-picture thinking often makes it challenging to launch new ideas. If you resonate with this challenge, you’re not alone. In this piece, I share a ritual that has transformed my approach to creativity: morning pages.
The Basics
Originally introduced in Julia Cameron’s 1992 guide, The Artist’s Way, morning pages serve as a tool to heal the inner artist. One of the most well-known tools she introduces is Morning Pages.
As Cameron describes, morning pages involve jotting down 3 pages of stream-of-conscious writing in long hand, ideally done first thing in the morning. There’s no right or wrong. Simply grab a pen and paper and let your thoughts flow for at least 3 pages. Even if you don’t consider yourself an artist or creative, this ritual can still apply to you.
There’s no need to filter your thoughts or share them with others.
The Benefits of Morning Pages
Mornings hold a sacred space for me – a time to tune in before the world wakes up. Over the years, I’ve used this time for embodiment practices like yoga, meditation, and writing. Since discovering The Artists Way a decade ago, morning pages have become an integral part of my morning routine, helping me to:
connect with myself and intuition
identify patterns that show up in my life, relationships, and work
calm down my anxiety and worries
come up with new ideas that I’m excited or passionate about
By spending a few minutes transferring my thoughts onto paper, I break free from a worrying loop. Afterward, I find myself energized, calm, and connected to myself.
Over the years, my morning pages have documented anything and everything – from hopes, dreams, holiday trips, my husband, and even my cat Squeaky who insists on sitting on my lap while I write.
So what’s stopping you? Grab a pen and paper and try 3 pages a day for a week. You just might be surprised with what you uncover.
Resources
Cameron, J. (1992, July 17). The artist’s way: A spiritual path to higher creativity.
