Today I will discuss generosity and how it affects our writing life (and the rest of our life which is, of course, not separate). Here is what I said about generosity and writing back last year...
It is said that generosity is the virtue that produces peace. Pretty tall order but try it - it really does. Of course, there are several ways we can be generous - it is not really about 'goods' but more about 'services'. And dedicating what we do to create enlightened society. There are several ways we can do this as writers. One of the ways is by sharing our knowledge - teaching - this is very alive on the internet with a generous population of bloggers, folks with web sites, free services like Wikipedia and other wikis. It is in our communities with writing groups - those funded by government agencies and ones that have grown out of individual initiatives. And it is in ourselves. When we practice generosity we are cutting attachment and the magical belief that if we give away our time, our knowledge, our money or our goods that we will not have enough for ourselves. Our experience tells us differently - the more we give the more we have. I'm not talking about idiot compassion here - we'll get to that in number six - but the notion that we create abundance, we magnetize what we need, when we are willing to offer it all up. In Nova Scotia this might be invoked by the phrase "what goes around comes around".
When I am stuck in my writing it is usually because I am fixated on the outcome instead of the process. If I can apply generosity to myself and my work and also to those that have obtained what I may desire - it frees me up to attend to what I need and LOVE to do.
Friday Challenge - oh, you thought I'd forgotten, didn't you? the challenge this week is to figure out a way of sharing your special knowledge with another. Be bold, call someone up and say - "I heard you needed to know how to can for the proper visimultude of your novel. Well, I'd love to come over and show you how it is done."
15 comments:
Strangely enough when I'm stuck on my pwn work and should be focusing on that is when I suddenly become most generous towards other people.
-mood
Moody Writing
Great point about the importance of the process instead of the product! Thanks for the reminder. :)
Thank you for the great advice. Hpe you have a giving week-end.
Spooky, Jan. We were talking about this at work yesterday, then at book club last night. Sharing our knowledge via blogs so others can benefit when the time is right.
Sue@JumpingAground (alliteration & drabbles)
Sue@traverselife(Workplace bullying)
Awesome idea! I;m a reader, and I love learning about writers :)
Nice to meet you through the A-Z challenge!
Nice post, Jan! A generous spirit is the key to most everything in life. We receive what we give and so on. In the spirit of sharing, I wrote a new poem for national poetry month called "Bluest Day" -- it's about many things, but definitely about the generosity of nature. And how much beauty is in the world. Take care, write well! -Daisy
This is great, Jan! I think you're so right, at least where time and service are concerned. I have some trouble being materially generous (I think it is the fearful Cancer who grew up poor, always afraid the resources won't go around.) but with writing, I find things like volunteering to critique ALWAYS gives me as much as I'm giving. I learn from that process, even as I try to help my fellow writers... And when I promote others... have them guest, or share their work, I can feel the good will coming back.
What a great post Jan. I don't know what I could help anyone with...but I would love to pass help anyone with whatever little morsel I could. I am not great at asking people myself. A hurdle I need to clear!
You blog is so lovely! It's so true that what goes around comes around. We have the same saying where I live.:)
Fantastic post!
http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2011/04/g-is-for-ground.html
Wonderful post and reminder about the importance of community and being kind to ourselves.
ah, Jan! You're so generous in coming up with unique challenges for us to try! :D This is a good one, though. If you have a gift, it's only right to share it with others. Thanks for the gentle reminder~ <3
Excellent point.. I've always found that helping CP's out with their work frees up my mental block!
Following you from A-Z challenge.
Being generous is the best trait of a writer, and I have met so many generous universe in the Blogverse. Great post.
Inspiring words...we do have more the more we give, it always works out that way. I don't know that I have any 'special knowledge', but I'll take the Friday challenge anyway! lol! I enjoy your blog very much!
Post a Comment