508,236

That’s how many words I’ve written this year.

For those of you (Uncle Peter) who urge me to shorten these blogs, this comes as no surprise. Being concise is a skill that I’m in the process of honing and in that spirit, here few more words before the end of the year.

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I wrote my first ever blog in the summer of 2017 because I was going through a dark season of life and felt called to share that experience with the world. The goal was to step into a vulnerable place and let others know that they weren’t alone. Since then, I’ve fallen more in love with writing with each word and I’m determined to make it a lasting part of my life. This year (these words included), I’ve written over half of a million words (508,236 to be exact) and that’s significant because it symbolizes the process. The remainder of this very short blog will be explaining why you should write more.

The process of writing has helped me explore every part of who I am and there’s no doubt that it can help you do the same. It’s allowed me to confront the unattractive realities being the (broken) human being that I am. It’s allowed me to practice mindfulness through many moments of awareness. It’s allowed me step forward in an uncertain future with confident intention. In short and without exaggeration, writing has helped shaped me into who I am.

“Good stories are not written. They are rewritten.”

Phyllis Whitney

You might not have a desire to write a blog and the good news is that you don’t have to. More than half of my writing this year (300,000+ words) have never left the folder on my laptop labeled “journal.” We are the stories that we tell ourselves and writing helps us shape those stories with intention. Some of my most meaningful writing might never be seen by the outside world and with that, let me encourage you to write.

Below are some prompts that may prove useful to kickstart your writing.

1. What is your favorite quote? What does it mean to you?
2. What activities in your life are distractions disguised as opportunities?
5. If you could speak one truth to the entire world, what would it be?  
10. If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be? Why?
11. What would you be pursuing if you couldn’t fail? 
15. What comfort is holding you back from growth? 
21. What limiting thoughts do you desire to unlearn? 
23. What’s the best thing that has ever happened to you?
29. What habits aren’t serving you? How can you change them?
31. What is the most powerful question that you’ve ever been asked? 

If you find these prompts helpful, you can the rest of them here where the Hard Things Club will be journaling together to kick off the new year – we would love to have you!

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I hope that this blog was short enough for Uncle Peter and valuable enough for everyone else. Writing our stories is an ongoing process so let’s end things with a quote about leaning into the process as we head toward another year!

“Becoming the observer (step back) you begin to live in process, trusting where your source is taking you. You begin to detach from the outcome. That detachment allows you to stop fighting and allows things to just come to you; you no longer make things happen but allow them to show up.”

Wayne W. Dyer

Write better stories.

Joe Rinaldi

IG: @joearinaldi

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