Everyone is going through challenges these days.
It just takes on different forms for different people at different times.
A few days ago, my father-in-law passed away (RIP Gus).
In the midst of holding space for my wife and her sisters, I wrote some poetry to process my own grief.
And it helped me so much.
Here are two I wrote (inspired by his passing).
Infinite peace surrounds you
And now you’ve surrendered into it
Death surrounds life
Yet Life also surrounds death
Death is the biggest lesson of life
And the biggest inspiration for life
The creative constraint of physical mortality
Yet there’s infinitely more to the story
What seems like the end
From the point of view of a human
Is really just the end of one game
For some reason, writing this poems brought deep peace to me.
It prepared my consciousness to hold space for others in their grieving process. And it helped me see the heart-sparkling beauty of even the most difficult aspects of this life.
On a whole new level, I’m seeing poetry as a sacred technology to navigate life’s challenges.
Why Poetry?
Poetry is how linguistics kisses meditation.
How language greets the ineffable.
How words shake hands with higher realms.
It allows for pure expression.
This is key — pure expression.
The best poetry is inspired.
Maybe by an emotion.
Maybe by a realization.
Maybe by divine guidance.
When you let that spark of inspiration unfold into freeform poetry, magic happens.
Something is created beyond the bounds of the logical mind.
Instead of plotting the meaning, you see the meaning (or maybe just hints of it) only after it’s expressed.
Again, pure expression. That’s what creates space for the spiritual alchemy of poetry.
The transmutative, cathartic essence.
How to Tap into This
Here are some simple tips to use poetry to navigate through challenges in life:
- Start with a spark of inspiration you feel (an emotion, insight, etc)
- Relax and allow phrases to come to you
- Write these phrases as a poem
- Let it unfold spontaneously
- Don’t attach to it making sense (meaning will come later)
That’s it.
You don’t need structure or rules. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Let it be pure expression.
Examples of Poetry to Navigate Difficulty
Here are some examples — based on different emotional states — to help you see how this might look.
Remember that yours could be so different than these. And that’s good! It’s all about unique, free-flowing expression.
Anxiety
When I feel the restlessness
The fear running wild in my mind
I don’t run
I turn and face it
Greet it
And realize
It’s a mirage
The phantom neuroses of the ego
That dissolve into trust
When observed
What becomes clear
Is a higher plan
That I can align with
And surrender into
Numbness/Depression
What would happen if I fully felt?
What would happen if I fully expressed?
The truth
Not the surface truth of situations
But the Truth of who I Am
Beyond it all
Because through it all
A part of me knows
That I’ve always been free
Gratitude for Challenges
The amount of pressure I’m under
Could break me or make me
(a new me)
It depends on my perspective
And I choose gratitude
Thank you, Life
For challenging me
In this, I grow
In this, I wisen
In this, I know empathy
For myself and others
True, deep empathy
Beyond the reach
Of the ever-comfortable soul
Thank you
Mythopoeia is Essential (If You Want to Thrive)
Things like journaling, writing poetry, songwriting, and writing stories aren’t frivolous.
They’re crucial if you want to thrive through times of uncertainty.
This is a big reason why I’m so passionate about the Soulful Writing Collective.
It’s a living network of conscious creators who use writing to expand consciousness and spark self-realization.
Authors, poets, lyricists, songwriters, storytellers, screenwriters, etc.
We create the space and structure for you to express your highest truth, step more into your purpose, and make sure your work doesn’t stay hidden.
We’ll help you:
- Spread your message
- Open new opportunities
- Get unique perspectives on your work
- Decode your work and others’ work in deep, meaningful ways
Does this resonate with you?
Learn more here: SOULFUL WRITING COLLECTIVE
PS – I trust this inspired you to write and express more. Your next level — and the people who can benefit from your work — are waiting.
