PSYCHIC VIEW: A Musing Predicament

Dear Muse,

You know you're a talented writer. What you don't realize: It's the secrets you hold (for yourself and others) that'll re-energize your excitement of your expertise. Step out of the hardened shell of others' expectations and back into your view of life. Since this has been a gradual compromise (the belief that someone else knows better than you), it'll take some effort on your part to get back to the "why" of your love of writing.

Start writing about those deep, dark secrets that only you know about. Adventures from your past that were edgy and pure folly—stuff you're ashamed of that others would probably find amusing, and your own individual intrigue. The "I can't believe my mind buries this stuff" and "I'd absolutely die if anyone knew about this."

Make it as ironic and funny as possible. Frame these secrets so if Barbara Walters were to ask you about them after the Academy Awards, your response would be thought-provoking and witty. Write your experiences in such a way that no matter what anyone says or how they say it, you're secure in the person you've become. This is your homework assignment.

The caveat of this exercise is that if you've intentionally hurt anyone (or someone has hurt you) in any way in the past, this is where you resolve that pain —either in person or in writing. Forgive them/yourself and release.

Take the emotional sting out of anything you think might be used against you. You must get past the idea that anyone can touch the essence of you. You're not the things you do; you're the spirit you are. You're that unshakable awareness that observes all of life, and you must bring out that awareness in your writing. Your core isn't about judging good and evil; it's about creating a bridge of understanding—that's what a good writer does. Each person is the sum total of their perspective and experience. The more someone can recognize the words of limitation that aren't their own, the greater their potential.

The reason your creative flow has been reduced to a trickle is that someone connected with your career is intimidating you with either hearsay, gossip about your ability, or a just an overall sense of disapproval. It's their fabrication of reality, yet you've given them the advantage if they can control your words in any fashion. You must learn to ignore any outside influence on your talent.

Trusting yourself will be your biggest challenge: deciding on something and then doing it without bouncing the idea off anyone else. This is how you're meant to write. The most difficult thing for a painter to decide is the subject of their canvas. Some artists do wonderfully in school because the teacher is always telling them their subject. However, put those same artists in the "real" world and they flounder because they put too much emphasis on what they're told to do, not what inspires them.

You'll be called upon to totally trust yourself and your ability by this May, so it's important that you do this homework assignment as soon as possible. Though I usually recommend that people burn their written-down issues from the past, in your case, I'd like you to reread them until there's no sting. You can't move forward very well if you're always looking backward. You have no reason to hold yourself back.