I have a few clients
Who have been obsessing
About problems this week.

And the thing about being a storyteller?
We love problems.

Because stories are really nothing without problems.
Conflict! Drama! Issues!
Even comedy.
Pain!

So we’re drawn to problems.
Or maybe we were drawn to problems
And so we became storytellers.

Either way.

Here’s the thing.
It’s like a plank of wood.
You look at a plank of wood.
Your eyes - our eyes at least - storytellers’ eyes - go to the knot.
And a knot in a piece of wood
Is where there was an infection.
A problem.
And the tree just grew around it.

But the knot is where our eye goes.
Because it’s the most interesting part.
The problem
Is where it’s all happening!

But there’s the rest of the plank of wood.
Without all that boring nothing going on part
The knot wouldn’t be so interesting.
It’s in the context of the un-problems
That the problem becomes interesting.

And yes.
Looking at problems
Is great for storytelling.
But not always great for living.

For living - as a storyteller
As someone
Who needs to stare at
Even dig around in
That knotted area -
It is super helpful to -
As you walk away from your desk -
Look at the rest of the plank of wood.
Look at solutions.
Look at un-problems.
Look at beauty.

Oh problems will arise.
Sure. They always do.
But you don’t have to always
Be drawn to them.
In the way that you always have to be drawn to them
In your work.

This shift in focus
Will help give you the fortitude
To get back into it tomorrow.
When you will be at it again.
Becuase you are writing every day.
Right?

(If not - or if you are and struggling - I can help with that.)

And one other possible tactic.
When you end up obsessing about the problem.
See if you can convert it into a question.
And then remind yourself to love the question.
Sometimes solutions, answers, stories and peace of mind
Can ride in on that love.

Infinitely Yours,
Beth

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