Liane Benedict

I’m sitting on my couch smelling a big pot of chili, with some interesting secret ingredients, cooking on the stove. My Christmas tree is still up and lit. One more day…

What I need to own up to is this: The noise that is distracting me from doing the work is the noise in my head. Chatter. Worries. Re-reading old chapters of my life.  Thinking about minutia that has no impact, really. It keeps me from being present. It keeps me from being clear. Without presence and clarity I am not doing the work. I am engaging in old, ineffective habits even though I know better. I need to be effective.

So, I am experimenting. I have been thinking about what I need to change, add or delete from my world in order to be present, focused, connected. I understand now that this is necessary to do the work and even find clarity about my work. My experiments are around tools and habits.

Today I am experimenting with Scrivener. I spent some time with the tutorials. I am pleased with the organizational aspects of this tool. A feature that is working for me right now is the full screen composition mode. Not a novel idea, and one I honestly did not think would make a huge difference. But it does. Minimizing visual distractions is something I seem to need to stay focused.  Having a definitive tool to support my thinking and writing flow is important and I can tell already it will help.

I am also experimenting with time management. I have been saying that I do not have time to show up every day. I do not have time to cultivate deep thinking or to do the work. I do not have time to fully engage. But it is not true.  That is an excuse. That is Resistance.

I have been waiting for the epic idea. Or some sort of a grand entrance to to a new digital presence. But there has been too much noise - online and off - for me to think straight. I need clarity. I need to have a sense of what my purpose with the work is and how a digital presence can support it.

I think I know. Then I think it is a stupid idea. I will be driving or showering and a great flow of thoughts and direction floods my head. Yes, I know I should be writing them down. I don't. And when I open my computer, I stare at my screen. For a long time. So then I just decide to shop for someorganic makeup or something (like I did today).