In Part 1 of this blog I wrote about overcoming writer's block using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) tapping. As an adult I realized that I had very early childhood memories of being chastised for my creative wordplay by my mother. At six years old, I'd already learned it wasn't safe to be creative and it certainly wasn't safe for me to share what I created.
Tapping on the aforementioned issue, of not feeling safe to freely express my creative voice, opened a door to a room where the roots of my problems with writer's block, were sprouting.
Picture a circular room with several doors. Now picture an issue that you want to overcome sitting in the middle of that circular room. Each door is a gateway to that issue and represents a different perspective, or aspect of that same issue. My issue, for example, had many doors surrounding it, which is the case for most of the writers and creative souls who I work with.
One of my doors into the room was opened by nine year old me, who was accused of plagiarizing in third grade. We had a creative writing assignment that was a treat for me because I loved playing with metaphors and making up new words by splicing words together. I was so proud of this assignment and I was eager to hear what my teacher had to say. She'd even asked my mother to come to the school to talk to her. I imagined that my hard-to-please teacher (Miss Sergeant) would finally give me some credit for my creative work with words.
But instead, she told my mother that I couldn't possibly be writing at that level. I must have had help. I must have stolen this writing from somewhere. She accused me, at nine years old of plagiarizing. Unfortunately my mother believed my teacher.
Do you think that's enough to keep an imaginative little girl enjoying her creative writing ability?
When, as an adult, I finally identified this event as a block that kept me from writing, it was very emotional and I spent about an hour tapping to address the unresolved feelings I still carried with me.
Here are some tapping phrases that I used:
(This article assumes you have an understanding of the tapping process. If not, please scoot to my website for tapping instructions.)
While tapping the karate chop point, repeat these statements:
- Even though I was told I was too young to be that good, I love and accept nine year old me.
- Even though I was accused of cheating and stealing and that made me question myself, I love and accept myself now.
- Even though what I wrote was completely rejected by my teacher and my mother, I release that feeling at a cellular level now.
- Even though I was proud of what I wrote and was punished, and I've carried the fear with me since then, I release that fear now.
- Even though I learned that I had to tone it down, I am open to exploring my authentic voice safely.
- Even though I felt betrayed by my mother for taking the teacher's side, it's over now and I'm free to write.
While tapping on the tapping points, repeat these reminder phrases:
Eyebrow: I was only nine years old...
Side of Eye: I got in trouble for being creative ... again...
Under Eye: I can't believe she accused me of stealing words...
Under Nose: I can't believe my mother believed her accusations...
Chin: I was so proud and excited...
Collar Bone: And I was punished...
Under Arm: It wasn't safe to share my work...
Top of Head: Or share my creative soul...
Eyebrow: I release this memory at a cellular level...
Side of Eye: And tell all parts of me that it's safe to write...
Under Eye: It's safe to be creative and to create...
Under Nose: I trust my creative soul...
Chin: I appreciate nine year old me...
Collar Bone: For writing anyway...
Under Arm: I appreciate my creative brain...
Top of Head: I'm open to receiving more inspiration now.
Already, here was a pile of negative - even paralyzing - messages that I downloaded before I was age nine. Can you relate to any of these? In my experience, many people who identify themselves as writers did so from a young age and their adult writer’s block can usually be traced to an early event where the creative child got the message that it was not okay to write.
These early events are like thumbprints left on our body, mind and spirit. As we get older, upsetting events can continue to happen around writing and the negative impact of each new event finds that old thumbprint and replaces it with a footprint marking a deeper disruption in your ability to connect safely with your authentic voice.
Pretty soon, we are walking around with Bigfoot-sized imprints that keep our creative energy blocked.
Put aside some time and take a few moments to identify some of your own blocks and then start tapping to eliminate them. Maybe you have some experiences like I did. Somewhere along the way you may have downloaded distinct messages about writing and being a writer. Those messages may not have felt distinct at the time and they may not have been traumatic or earth shattering, but they may be interfering with your adult writing self.
Start tapping on anything that comes to mind. Often, underneath a few layers you’ll find some roots that have left their mark on your current writer's life. It just takes some persistence.
You can do some tapping on your own, or if you'd like coaching and support from me as you leap over your own creative hurdles, scoot here to find out if my Write Now Coaching package might be a fit for you.
Or simply Contact Me now for more info.
I also wrote a section for adults in my book, The Tapping Solution for Teenage Girls so that you can use the exercises in the book to resolve the teenage upsets that might be interfering with finding your own creative voice.
Bye for now!
Keep being awesome,
- Christine
Join me in Part Three for some insight into how my father’s harsh opinion kept me from following my dream of being a writer.