Writing: For a purpose vs. with a purpose
We think we need an aim in mind—to write an article, or a short story, or even a book. But, this is a reminder that we must consciously use words to express ourselves.
Writing to complete a story or an assignment comes naturally to us, as we are a society that largely functions on a lot of documentation, but do we often get stuck while writing about ourselves? Writing for a purpose is just not the same as writing to convey a message in the most effective way possible. Have you choked on your own words while trying to make sense of an international political fiasco?
Do we not emote and think every time we write about a person because it matters to us as writers? Written words should seem like an effortless conversation with the reader, but maybe it doesn't come naturally to many of us as we have not been conditioned to write to express.
Complicated words do not define seriousness
Writing for a purpose is also likely to be mediocre or even bad. We take writing for pleasure for granted. We think we can not just write because we are angry, or frustrated, or happy. We think we need an aim in mind—to write an article, or a short story, or even a book. However, we must use words to express ourselves as well as to communicate.
Over the past few years, I have written extensively for newspapers, websites, and magazines, but one thing remained constant--those stories were all about other people. It is not that I am incapable of writing, but it does not come naturally to me when I have to write about myself.
I realised this quite recently when I was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder amid the second wave of coronavirus. The professional psychological counsellor had asked me to reach the core of my anxiety by writing extensively about my experiences and feelings during the anxious moments.
At times, I felt lazy or I felt short of words. Over the weeks, I came to understand that I was facing a very different version of writer's block. Most of the things I wrote were related to this illness, but at some point in time, I started feeling the urge to write different stuff! And, Know Your World is an attempt to do exactly this with my own interpretation of events in India and across the world.
Become a better thinker with writing
Writing boosts self-confidence and strengthens faith in our own thought processes. It helps us stand our ground. It also helps in identifying your own flaws. Here are a few ways to translate negative self-talk into positive reinforcement:
It’s not worth writing —>These thoughts are already occupying my mind, why not write them down?
I’m not a real writer —> No one really is. I haven't seen the first drafts of some of the most well-known works.
People will laugh at me for attempting to write —> People have the right to disagree, and it mustn’t bother me.
I feel like it's time to stop being afraid of my own thoughts and start sharing them with the world. We can all be celebrated journalists, managers, performers or presenters, but I am now embarking on a journey to feel confident enough to write about anything that I really believe in.
I have set myself a writing goal, where I will be trying to write at least a couple of times every week in order to get this out of my mind. Know Your World will be a true documentation of my growth as a writer and hopefully get to a point where sharing is effortless.
Often, there are events that enrage me, but I do not feel the need to register my discontent, largely because I don’t feel it is important to be shared. Often, I do not get the platform to express myself in depth. Twitter's 140 characters are not enough, and honestly, most social media platforms have become a portal to an alternate 'fake' life filled with accomplishments and happy moments.
I hope to use Know Your World to share more than just these fleeting moments in my life, but also to share more of what has been truly important in our immediate worlds.
(Please feel free to share your feedback or get in touch. There’s nothing better than expanding our knowledge)
#BETTEREVERYDAY
Good initiative! Keep manifesting yourself.