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In this episode you’ll learn:
- What writer’s block reveals about human nature
- How self-limiting beliefs disrupt what we desire
- Why creatives often find it hard to ask for help
Have we found the cure for writer’s block?
What does it feel like to be a free, unstuck, creative?
Does writer’s block really exist and, if so, what is it?
In this episode, we pull writer’s block apart and find out what’s really going on…to find out what’s on the other side.
Healer, teacher and writer, Dave Ursillo, returns to the show, for the third time, to unpack what we mean by writer’s block.
Sharing the last ten years of his life’s work, Dave reveals what he has learned helping hundreds of other writers to become an unstuck and thriving artist in their writing again.
In part one of this two part chat, hear about the three shadow behaviours and how the fear shadow can stop our creative progress.
Hot off the back of his recent Creative Live appearance, Dave shares his most recent wisdom, teaching us what writer’s block can reveal to us about being human.
Listen to what Dave’s early yogic experiences revealed to him as a writer and as a person.
And the value of self-awareness plus the 3 promises of writing.
Items mentioned in this episode (quick access):
Curing writer’s block
[01:24] Introducing Dave Ursillo.
[02:22] Have we found the cure for writer’s block?
[05:42] Dave shares two observations.
[08:39] The creative struggle being the source of suffering.
[10:37] What writer’s block reveals about human nature.
An undercurrent of struggle for creative expression
[11:40] Defying the ‘woe is me’ stigmas.
[14:27] Unavoidable writing.
[15:24] Advancing the quality of his own life: Dave’s first book, Lead Without Followers.
[16:25] Identifying resistance.
[16:50] What yoga and having a mindfulness practise taught Dave.
Unavoidable writing
[20:20] Finding meaning and purpose in life.
[21:25] How self-limiting beliefs prevent creativity.
[23:00] Identifying the human being behind the struggle.
[23:30] Feeling like an imposter.
[24:06] Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way.
Shadow behaviours: the fear shadow
[25:11] The fastest way to understand your creative practice.
[26:19] The physics of writing.
[26:45] Steven Pressfield’s book, The War of Art.
[27:40] Dave offers some examples of self-limiting beliefs…
[29:00] The fear shadow: how our goals immobilise us.
The value of self-awareness
[32:05] Amanda Turner and the fear of success.
[32:35] Is less more?
[33:00] Measures of success.
[35:00] The value of self-awareness.
[37:45] The three promises of writing.
[38:55] Part two preview.
Links and Resources:
- [Course] Unavoidable Writing (non-affiliate promo code: ICP30)
- [E-book] Writer’s block free e-book
- [Website] Dave Ursillo
Books mentioned in this episode:
Quotes from this episode (click to tweet:):
- “I had a deep sense of shame and insecurity about who I was”
- “No effort is wasted…it all comes with you”
- “How we spend our lives is what our lives ultimately become”
- “I was too insecure to receive help”
- “Nothing…is ever wasted…it all comes with you”
If you enjoyed this podcast, you’ll also like:
- ICP 126 How Personal Journaling Moves You Towards The Story You Want
- ICP 232 How To Capture Inspiration In The Moment (with Natalia Komis)
- ICP 180 How To Overcome Creative Paralysis And Writers Block (with Author Amanda Turner)
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