Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Revising your life story

Our instructor at the writer’s workshop I’m attending-- a petite blonde novelist who has a wonderful habit of scrubbing her face with both hands when she’s making a point--is listing seven steps to take when revising your writing. 
As she speaks, I have one of those “Aha!” moments, and I burst out, “Those are the same steps I took in my post-divorce therapy!” 
The class laughs. But if revision means to re-vision--that is, to see differently--why shouldn’t the revision of one’s life parallel the revising of a written story? 
After all, your life is your story. 
Here are the seven steps:
  1. Be willing to change the way you see.
  2. Drop all previously held opinions, judgments, and beliefs.
  3. Step back and look at the bigger picture.
  4. Relax. (This might include meditation).
  5. Activate your intuition. (Is your subconscious speaking to you through dreams?)
  6. Invite higher ideas.
  7. Allow your new vision to emerge. 
If you’re going through one of life’s transition periods, will these steps work for you?