What walking has taught me about writing...

We live in a goal orientated world. Where outcomes count and success needs to be measurable. Tangible. Something we can latch onto and pin our happiness on. Something that determines who we are. When you work so hard for that end goal, and it doesn't materialise it affects your mood, you start comparing yourself to others and all you can think about is giving up. At least that's how I felt after ten years of writing for children, six books, two agents and not a book deal in sight... that was until I started training for my walk. Walking has made me realise that I was so focused on the end result, the goal of having a book published, that I'd forgotten how to enjoy the process.

When I walk, the joy exists solely in the journey, not the destination. The real value of taking part is what happens along the way, and imagine what I would miss if the destination (home in this instance) was my only focus. Applying this to the Camino walk, it also means that the six days of walking would be irrelevant and completely pointless if the ONLY focus is the destination town of Santiago de Compostela. And surely if this were to be true, then I (along with 14,000 other pilgrims) might as well get the bus to the edge of the town and walk twenty minutes to the end location of the church. And we are definitely not going to do that. Why? Because the journey is far more important than the destination. And I lost sight of this on my writing journey...

The reasons why I stopped enjoying writing are for another day, but for now, walking has taught me to find joy in the process- because if you aren't enjoying a hobby/endeavor* (creative or not) what is the point?

When I walk...

I am in the moment. My focus on my footsteps.

Sometimes the birds sing along to my march. Sometimes the wind nudges me from meandering.

Daffodils stand to attention as I pass. Protective branches pat me on the back.

I am enough right here. Putting one foot in front of the other.

Sometimes I am in flow with the river. Sometimes I veer from the path.

Robins fly safely by my side. Butterflies dance and show the way.

I am capable. My focus on my footsteps.

With each step I move forward. To where, I don't care.

I am content. I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

I am free.

I am starting to feel this way about writing again... but it has taken time to get here. I have since changed my writing goals into ones that I ultimately have control over. I am excitedly trying new avenues (and hopefully I can share more about this soon) and I am enjoying writing more than I have in a long time. Writing this blog helps with that too! I am writing for me. I am writing to enjoy creating. I am writing because it's fun. Goals can be good, they give us something to focus on and aim for, but not at the expense of the process. To stay in a healthy mindset, it's important to cultivate joy in and from the process, rather than being solely dependent on the goal- especially if the achievement of the goal is beyond your control (as it was with my aim for a traditionally published book).

If you have found that you feel too attached to the outcome of something, rather than enjoying the process, these tips might help:

• Readjust your goal- instead of aiming for something that is beyond your control i.e. publishing a book, focus on something that is within in your power, such as write a story/ article/ proposal. This also helps with unrealistic expectations and the pressures we might put on ourselves.

• Celebrate EVERYTHING... the challenges, the learning, the successes. Celebrate all the little wins!

• Print out any reminders of your hard work or how far you have come. Has somebody complimented you on something you have created? Print it out. Have you walked more miles this week than last week? Display it somewhere. The positivity steps show that we are part of a process and remind us to enjoy it even when things feel a little tough.

• When we are overwhelmed/fed-up/frustrated (*delete as appropriate) it doesn't mean we have to stop doing something altogether. Take some time away- you can always come back to it if you miss it.

• Take time to regularly reflect on the 'Why?' What's the reason you started doing what you are doing in the first place? If we revisit that regularly there is far less chance that we will lose sight of it.

• Remind yourself that its okay to do something just for the fun of it. You don't have to be the best at it, or in fact even any good at it, as long as you enjoy it.

• The process is where the real success lies. You own your process and you get to choose how it makes you feel. And most importantly, if the activity you are engaging in is causing you too much pain. STOP. Your choice, is the right choice for you.

* This blog is written about my own personal experience with writing and the writing process which I work around my job and it is not intended to be reflective of all writers and/or writers who rely on writing work/contracts for income.