Have you ever sat at your laptop, struggling to create your blog post or newsletter? I know I have, and with all that’s going on right now in the world, this is happening more and more often and for more and more business owners.   Some days putting the words on paper can feel like dragging an oversized old tree stump. You can barely fit your arms around the thing, and every step you take feels heavy, unsteady. It’s so exhausting.

I remember one time working on an article, and it was agonizing. Nothing I was typing made any sense. My paragraphs were going in circles. I kept losing the thread of what I wanted to share. Still I kept at it. The clock ticked on the mantle all afternoon; my fingers tapped and backspaced, tapped and backspaced

If this happens what should you do? Power through it or take a break and come back refreshed?

While it’s tempting to create an either-or perspective, the answer lies in a more nuanced approach. Having clear messaging and identifying your content themes are two big picture steps you can take to help make writing your content easier. But for those days when the writing itself just feels like a slog, it’s far better to try listening to your own inner wisdom to find the right thing to do to help get you moving again.

Here are five steps to do just that:

1.  ACKNOWLEDGE

The first step is to recognize how you’re feeling. This is important even if you don’t want to be feeling the way you are. Maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the uncertainty in the world and writing your blog post seems, suddenly, massively unimportant. Maybe you’re frustrated or feeling time pressured. Maybe you thought you’d kicked your Inner Critic to the curb and here it is, a fiery eyed editor, changing every sentence you start to type for your blog post.

Acknowledge it all, even the fact that you don’t want to feel that way, and accept that you are where you are and that you’re feeling exactly the way you’re feeling.

2.  ASK

Take a few minutes to get still and ground. If you’re comfortable doing so, close your eyes. Center by taking three deep breaths and climb into your body. (If you’re not sure how to do this, here’s a great audio from a sister Martha Beck Coach, Courtney Pinkerton, that will guide you through one way to do it.)

Now, ask yourself, what does my heart need here?

3.  ALLOW

Stay open to whatever answer comes to you and as my teacher, Mark Silver says, be willing to be surprised. You might be hear words or see images. You might sense a symbol or a knowing. You might experience something totally new. If you think the answer is going to be “keep on trying” and what you get instead is “watch cartoons” or “call Mary” allow that to be the case and write down anything that comes to you.

4.  ACCEPT

Accept what comes to you through your inner guidance and don’t start second guessing yourself. It’s important because you’re probably going to be tempted to overrule what you hear. This is especially true if you’re inner wisdom is guiding to you something that’s different from your usual state of doing or being. Trust your inner wisdom and follow its guidance.

5.  ACCOUNT

Then notice what happens. When you followed what your heart says, what happened? Did your heart tell you to take a break and go out for a walk? Did you go grab a book with the perfect quote that you could then turn into the focus of the blog? Or maybe you sat out on the patio with your laptop for a set amount of time and found your words started flowing?

Notice with all your attention and write down what happens in your journal. This helps make it real and develops your trust in your own inner wisdom.

If writing your blog post is something you’re struggling with don’t worry. You’re definitely not alone right now. There’s a way through, and it might not be what you think it is. If you ask your heart for guidance, and then allow and accept your own inner wisdom, what you create will be just what you need. And just what your ideal clients will need as well.

The Content Kit

Running your own coaching, healing or other creative business involves a lot of writing. I see many business owners spending a lot of time creating content, but, if that content isn’t connecting with their audience, then it isn’t helping their ideal clients, or their businesses. I would say this is even more important than ever right now.

I'm offering a free eBook so you can learn how to create content your ideal clients will value.

Click this link to find out more.

Photo by Oliver Schweizer on Unsplash