WRITER'S BLOCK: FORGIVENESS

For anyone who has been reading my blog for the last six months, you likely will have noticed that I've been writing every three days.  I feel proud of myself that I've succeeded in this endeavor.  Yet, as of today, I have "fallen off the wagon."

I have diligently been writing in my journal every single day for at least a year.   That is, I have never missed a day.  In the past, I have skipped days, and likely I will again.  However, it is clear to me that I have a fairly strong journal writing habit by now.  Habits and any creative activity are important (see Twyla Tharp's The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life).

I have developed a pretty good three-day blog writing habit.  And, it is what I want to keep going.  Yet, I know as well that it is important to be forgiving of myself when I do not make my goal.

As I've discussed at other times, punishment has been shown to be effective in developing avoidance behaviors, but not in producing creativity.  Creativity needs not only habit, but nurturing and flow (see Csikszentmihalyi's Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience (P.S.).

So, for today, I have forgiven myself for missing yesterday and will continue to work towards my three-day blog goal.

And you?  What writing goals do you need to let yourself forgive yourself for today… or in the past?