We have these days, weeks or even months where we lack mental clarity. It’s like there’s just nothing there; there’s no insight, no learning, no intuition, no ability, no passion, it’s just… nothing. I’ve found that when I get like this, freewriting helps me to find that clarity again, just writing whatever is on my mind at the moment. Freewriting can be a great tool to find the mental clarity that you’re looking for.

Freewriting is essentially just writing stream of consciousness – writing whatever crosses your mind; writing whatever is there at the front of your mind. When I’m lacking mental clarity, or when I feel empty, that’s typically when I start freewriting, When you start freewriting, you’ll find that your mind’s not empty. In fact, you may find exactly the opposite. You’ll usually find that there is something there, you just haven’t expressed it in a way that allows you to move past it. Sometimes it might be a thought or an idea that you haven’t been able to process because you haven’t identified it well enough. Sometimes it’s a recurring theme, something that you’re tired of having to process. You may ignore it, or are so frustrated by it, that you put it aside. Freewriting allows you to stumble across these things as you attempt to empty what’s at the front of your mind.

Sometimes I’ve found it’s almost like a filter that needs to be cleaned out from time to time. When I freewrite, I clear that filter. Thoughts that are waiting further back in my mind get an opportunity to make their way to the front, and eventually out as statements, work, ideas, and plans. The filter gets clogged with things that I tend to be able to release by writing stream of consciousness.

It doesn’t always, or even usually, work first time. It typically takes a sustained amount of effort over time. There are days that honestly feel empty, but you still write whatever is there. It may be the word “banana” over and over, it may be lyrics, an idea, or a memory. Just keep writing to get at what’s actually there.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of clearing the clutter at the front of your mind. Sometimes it’s about finding what’s actually there that needs to be addressed. Whatever the case, freewriting often brings that clarity that you may be searching for.