Friday Dispatch: Back to Basics
Slowing down to the speed of my values
Friday greetings,
Since late December, I’ve been running again, although I am affectionately calling it “shuffling” since that feels more accurate and I’m all about finding the right word :)
On my shuffle yesterday, I found myself thinking about the phrase, “back to basics,” especially in relation to my work as a promptress and writing coach.
Self-employment, for me, has meant a continuous dance between stretching, experimenting, and expanding on the one hand, and the pull towards quiet and depth on the other. (Shout out to fellow ambiverts!)
This dance does not always feel easy or graceful from the inside (and I have no idea how it “looks” from the outside), especially when you factor in that we live in a culture that demands constant betterment and favors expansion. I love creating. I have a long-standing desire to do fewer things with more presence. I generally prioritize depth over breadth. And I have long struggled with and written about what I’ve long called the “bigger better different” syndrome, which can mire me in a purgatory of not-enoughness and a focus on lack, or on what’s next.
Striving can be a powerful force; picture, say, a baby learning to crawl, reaching for some coveted prize just across the room. It is thrilling, miraculous.
But as we grow up, and as the more corrosive aspects of our insatiable culture invariably impact us, it’s easy for growth to morph from something innately inspired into something more driven. If you’ve ever compared yourself to someone else and felt somehow less-than – be it in terms of family life, finances, lifestyle, or creativity – you know what I’m talking about.
“Back to basics” returns me to contemplating what is most important, what is already working, and how I want to show up. It reminds me to look at where my ego has eclipsed my heart, or where stories I’ve internalized have diminished my inherent self-worth.
In short, these three little words give me a bridge back to my values.
On yesterday’s shuffle, that “bridge” came in the form of the Universe having a sense of humor: A good quarter mile of slippery planks precariously placed over icy mud. I found I had two choices:
slow down and walk with care until I reached solid ground again; or
opt for calf-deep misery.
If you guessed that I slowed down, you would be correct. In so doing, I came back to something I know to be true but occasionally need reminding about: We do not have to be building a brand or a platform, being in a huge hurry, amassing a fortune, or becoming a household name to matter or for our work in the world to have meaning. These are among the many insidious lies of our times.
In that light, for me, back to basics right now means:
honoring my commitment to my work being financially accessible, while also honoring my need to provide for my family;
offering my clients and group members gentle structure and accountability along with warm encouragement and positive reinforcement;
working within, not against, my capacity; and
remembering the power of presence.
The bottom line?
Less: Bells & whistles, comparing, and lack.
More: Simplicity, steadiness, and enoughness.
What does “back to basics” evoke for you? I’d love to hear.
Shabbat Shalom and love,
Jena
Is this the year you come back to basics with your writing? The following online groups begin this month!
✍️ Jewels on the Path
~ two cohorts (one for Jewish writers)
This 12-week writing journey will give you a place to show up, practice, experience the power of letting everything count, and write more consistently and courageously.
January 22-April 12
Sliding scale
Two Zoom gatherings
Private Facebook group with weekly rhythm
Work on a specific project
Deepen your personal practice
✍️ The Sound of Real Life Happening
A place to land and write down all the things, in every season of the year with a small group of people you’ll come to know, love, and learn with and from.
January 1-11, April 1-11, July 1-11, October 1-11
$150 per quarter
Quarterly Zoom gatherings
Private Facebook group
Become more attuned to your inner and outer life
Also a great practice for generating writing material
So, so good and true, Jena. Thank you!!