Easing In…
“Your pace—your race.”
-April Christina
A fellow creative and really dope woman of God shared this quote with me when commenting on my previous post, An Act of Faith. At first glance, I thought, “Hmm, that’s good,” and then I moved on from it. But it lingered…and has been on my mind EVER SINCE. That’s when I knew it was more than just a good quote; it was a message. The quote would come to mind randomly and without prompting. I found myself repeating it in between sips of tea, while sifting through fresh laundry, and even as I lay in bed. It took me a minute to understand why the words resonated so heavily. On the surface, the quote seemed to refer to the unique design and pace of life itself. As I thought more deeply, I realized it was a bit more specific. To me, the quote was a much-needed reminder of my journey as a writer. Similar to life, it’s an individual journey, where the pace is unique and varies according to the season.
For a brief moment, I got a little too hyped about writing again. As I began setting expectations around process and productivity, I quickly realized how unrealistic they were. I was planning for the present, using a past approach. The process I was trying to get back to was not fitting my current season. Bottom line? I needed to pause and reassess my pace. I also needed to show myself more grace. Though the creative spark had been reignited, the flame is still small. And guess what? THAT’S JUST FINE!
So…
I’ve decided to take my time.
To ease back in.
To choose wisdom over expectations.
I don’t need to place unnecessary pressure on myself by trying to push my art out at a ridiculous pace. I don’t need to try and “make up for lost time,” or try and match the pace of other writers. I can simply focus on my race. I can hold the image in my mind that likens my current process to the smooth flow of a river, rather than the gush of a waterfall. Still moving. Still flowing. But doing so at a slower pace.
Sure, the level of productivity may be lower than usual. And the word count may not be as high as I’d like for it to be. I might not meet every intended submission deadline. But, as long as I’m writing, I’m right where I’m where I’m supposed to be. I can choose to look back at who I was and what I’d accomplished before this storm, or I can accept who I am now and where I’m headed. Most importantly, I can lean on God in the process.
…
While journaling one morning, I decided to jot down a few reminders to help ease back in:
1. Slow movement is better than no movement. If you can only do a little at a time, it’s still enough.
2. It’s not the work that dictates the process, it’s the process that dictates the work. If we allow the work to dictate the process, we may experience unnecessary pressure to create. That feeling may lead to feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or frustrated. When the process dictates the work, we tend to be more focused on the approach. We open ourselves to opportunities to assess, reflect, and make necessary changes. And over time, we gain a deeper appreciation for what we’re doing and what it took to get there.
3. Consistency isn’t determined by quantity or speed. It’s not about how fast you’re writing, how many times a day you’re writing, or how much work/art you’re creating. It’s about being steadfast and staying the course.
4. Grace, grace, and more grace. That’s it.
I hope that while easing back in, you’re reminded that a slow pace is still forward movement…and it still leads to progress.
…
Moment of Reflection: I find that even in the ease of creating, inspiration can still be found.
Gentle Reminder: Flow. Create. Share. And do so with ease.
