In this enlightening discussion, Alison Jones, author of "Exploratory Writing: Everyday Magic for Life and Work," shares her expertise in harnessing writing to transform chaos into clarity. She emphasizes how exploratory writing can alleviate anxiety and spark creativity through self-reflection and authentic communication. Alison reveals a simple yet powerful writing exercise to enhance meeting dynamics, making them more inclusive. Listeners are encouraged to develop a six-minute writing habit to unravel their thoughts and foster personal growth.
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3 a.m. Breakthrough
Alison Jones discovered exploratory writing during a 3 a.m. entrepreneurial meltdown.
Writing helped her shift from an anxious state to a resourceful one, generating a solution to her cash flow problem.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Not Journaling
Exploratory writing differs from journaling; it's for your eyes only.
Write on something you're willing to discard, relieving the pressure of preservation.
insights INSIGHT
Chaos to Creation
Exploratory writing moves from chaos to decluttering, then to creation.
Embracing the courage to be "rubbish" on paper unlocks this process.
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Written by Bec Evans and Chris Smith, this book offers a transformative approach to writing productivity. It emphasizes that there is no one-size-fits-all method for writing and instead encourages readers to experiment and find what works best for them. Drawing from their extensive experience coaching over 10,000 writers, the authors provide tried and tested advice, personal stories, and the latest research from psychology and neuroscience. The book is divided into three parts: The Approach, Start Writing, and Keep Writing, and includes practical tips and inspiring stories to help writers overcome obstacles and maintain a consistent writing habit.
Exploratory Writing
Everyday magic for life and work
Alison Jones
This book introduces the concept of exploratory writing, which involves writing for oneself without a clear goal in mind. It highlights how this technique can support key skills of the 21st century, such as self-mastery, creativity, focus, solution-finding, and collaboration. Alison Jones shares her expertise from a 30-year career in publishing and coaching, and the book includes practical advice and prompts for beginners to incorporate exploratory writing into their daily lives.
The Chimp Paradox
Steven Peters
The Chimp Paradox by Dr. Steve Peters introduces a powerful mind management model that explains the internal struggle between the 'Chimp' (emotional and instinctive) and the 'Human' (rational and intelligent) parts of the brain. The book helps readers recognize how their mind works, understand and manage their emotions and thoughts, and develop strategies to tame the 'Chimp' and make better decisions. It also discusses the role of the 'Computer' part of the brain, which stores automatic habits and responses. The book provides practical advice and exercises to help readers improve their daily lives, manage stress, and achieve their goals.
Have you ever felt like there were just too many tabs open in your mind? Today, I've invited Alison Jones, the author of Exploratory Writing: Everyday Magic for Life and Work. By the end of this episode, you will have the simplest of tools that can produce extraordinary results. You'll discover an idea so simple, you'll get it immediately, and yet you've probably never done it before in your life. It will help you to be able to turn the chaos in your mind into clarity and even creativity.
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