Last year, I made a habit of setting intentions every time the moon went black. Well, it’s February 19, 2023, and it’s a new moon tonight, so it seems like as good a time as any to return to this practice.
What are three things I want to achieve by the next new moon? It’s hard to choose only three because I feel like I’ve been going off the rails in most areas of my life lately. If I have to choose, though, my three new moon resolutions are the following:
- I will write at least three pages a day.
- I will read at least one chapter a week.
- I will meditate twice a day (once for five minutes, and once for 15 minutes).
None of these are easy practices for me to stick to—if they were, I’d already be doing them. I’m going to draw on the power and potential of this new moon to find the self-discipline I need because all three of these practices are critical for my mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. They’re also essential if I’m serious about getting back into the creative groove. I haven’t been in the creative groove for a while.
I’m a writer who’s going to write more
I didn’t want to write this blog post. I’ve been putting it off for days. Why?
For someone who loves writing, I haven’t been doing much of it. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so busy. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so tired. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so overwhelmed with everything going on in my life.
Whatever the reason is, I need to treat it as an excuse, because there aren’t many things that should be more important than my writing. Too busy? If I’m too busy to write, I need to question how I’m spending my time. Too tired? If I’m staying up too late, that’s another reason to question how I’m spending my time. Too overwhelmed? I think I’m forgetting that writing actually makes me feel less overwhelmed: It’s a very effective vehicle for working through the mess of thoughts and feelings in my head, yet I’m not doing it.
The unfortunate thing is that the less often I write, the harder it is to get back into it. That’s why I’ve been procrastinating writing this blog post. If I can find the discipline to write every day, even when I’m busy, tired and overwhelmed, it won’t feel like jumping into a cold pool every time I try to sit down and write something.
I need to find the discipline to write every day. Not just a few paragraphs: I’m going to write three pages a day between now and the next new moon.
I’m a writer who’s going to read more
A writing instructor once told me that the best thing you can do for your writing is to read more. Reading expands your vocabulary, inspires you and helps you figure out the kind of writing you want to do.
I know this, and I want to read more, yet days go by when all I’m doing is playing Sudoku and watching YouTube videos. Somehow reading feels like more work. That’s probably because reading 是 more work. That’s why it’s important. That’s why it’s good for you. Sometimes what’s good for you requires some effort. Unfortunately, books don’t read themselves.
I have a book in my backpack that I’ve been struggling to get through for a couple of months. I need to finish it for two reasons: It’ll give me a sense of accomplishment, and it’ll give me the opportunity to start another book. Also, it’s a well-written book that is closely aligned with the type of book I want to write in the future, so all the more reason to devote the time I need to finish it.
So, that’s resolution two: I will finish this book and then read at least one chapter a week of a new book until the next new moon.
I’m a writer who will start meditating again
If I only accomplish one of my three resolutions between now and the next new moon, this is the one to prioritize: I need to meditate every day. Not once in a while. Not when I feel like it. In fact, when I least feel like doing it is when I need to do it the most. I need to do it every day, no matter how I’m feeling. It should be as much of my daily routine as brushing my teeth. Like brushing my teeth, I really need to be doing it twice a day.
Everything starts with your state of mind, and writing is no exception. If I’m not resetting my mind through meditation on a regular basis, I’m dragging lots of mental noise into my writing practice. Writing is easier with a clear mind.
Starting tonight, I’m going to make a habit of clearing the cobwebs in my brain by meditating twice a day: five minutes before bed and 15 minutes in the morning. I’ll do my five minutes as soon as this post is written and sent. I’m tired, and I’m doing it anyway.
Knowing what to do vs. actually doing it
My writing is too important for me to avoid it until the conditions are ideal. I need to feel the fear and do it anyway. I need to write tired. I need to write stressed. I need to write as if my life depends on it, which it kind of does—my quality of life, at the very least.
For the sake of myself and my writing, I’m going to write every day, read every week, and start and end every day in meditation. At least for the next four weeks: We’ll see how the next new moon finds me. I’m hoping I’ll be a more productive writer than the one rushing to finish this paragraph. I know this: The last minute won’t be nearly as stressful when I’ve been filling the ones that precede it more wisely.
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图1： Silvia；图2： 炒股；图3： Silvia；图4： Khusen Rustamov
