Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion. ― Martha Graham
MerakiÂ
Meraki is a Greek word meaning to do something with great attention and pleasure—a sense of joyful passion. It can be applied to artistic activities, like writing or painting, but it can also refer to everyday tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, or even making a cup of coffee. It means to put a little bit of your soul into something and to do it with love.
The Opposite Of Meraki
It is not easy to want to do something when we feel that we have to do something.
Sometimes, when I sit down to write, I encounter a sense of resistance or even resentment. It is not easy to want to do something when we feel that we have to do something. And yet, when I’m able to shed those feelings, my writing is better. When I’m able to write with a sense of meraki, my writing improves and I enjoy the process of doing it.
Free Your Mind
So, how can you “force” yourself to work with meraki? You can’t. You can, however, make meraki possible by freeing yourself from negative feelings of obligation. Before you begin writing, remind yourself that you are free to write or not write today. Yes, there may be consequences for not writing, but—ultimately—the choice is yours. Remind yourself of what you hope to accomplish with your writing, and of who you are writing for. And remind yourself that you never regret taking time to write. Then, ease into writing by taking a few minutes to play/write. Use the daily writing prompt on Bookflow or find your own, and write something that has nothing to do with your work in progress for five minutes. This is essential for restoring a sense of play. Once you have done this, take a moment to notice how you feel. your mind will be ready to explore the day’s tasks with your passion fully awakened.
