Look deeper -- write -- the wonders of writing | Nicoletta Demetriou | TEDxUniversityofNicosia

Summary

The speaker, an ethnomusicologist and life-writer, shares her morning ritual of writing to connect with her inner voice. She explores the therapeutic power of writing, which can reveal hidden desires and fears, and encourages the audience to practice writing without judgment to discover their authentic selves. The talk emphasizes the transformative impact of writing on personal growth and self-understanding.

Takeaways

• 🌞 Start your day with writing: The speaker suggests beginning the day by writing for 15 minutes before getting out of bed to capture thoughts in a half-awake state.
• 📚 Disciplines of ethnomusicology and life writing: The speaker's academic background in these disciplines emphasizes the importance of writing to understand and share people's experiences and music.
• 📝 Writing as self-discovery: Writing is presented as a tool to explore one's own voice and to delve into personal feelings, thoughts, and desires.
• 🤔 Overcoming the fear of writing: The script addresses the common fear of writing, suggesting it stems from the challenge of facing one's own expectations and voice.
• 📉 The pressure of expectation: Writing is often associated with high expectations, which can be intimidating, but the speaker encourages writing for self-exploration rather than external validation.
• 🧘‍♂️ Mindfulness through writing: Writing is likened to meditation, helping to quiet the 'monkey mind' and allowing for greater self-awareness.
• 🏠 Personal relevance of writing: Regardless of one's profession, understanding one's voice through writing can enhance communication and personal clarity.
• ✍️ The practice of writing: The speaker outlines a simple practice involving a notebook and pen for writing without overthinking to foster a deeper connection with oneself.
• 🔄 The transformative power of repetition: Regular writing practice is emphasized for its ability to transform lives by cutting through resistance and uncovering one's true desires.
• 🏃‍♂️ Training for writing: Just like physical training, writing requires consistent practice to improve and to prepare for the marathon of self-expression.
• 🌟 Embracing the transformative journey: The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to write without expectations, to explore deeper within themselves and potentially transform their lives.

Q & A

What is the speaker's morning routine before getting up?

The speaker sets their alarm 15 minutes before they actually have to get up, sits up in bed, takes a notebook and pencil, and writes for 15 minutes in a half-awake, half-asleep state.

What are the two disciplines the speaker is involved in, and how do they relate to each other?

The speaker is involved in ethnomusicology and life writing. Both disciplines are bound together by the act of writing, with ethnomusicology focusing on studying and writing about people playing music, and life writing focusing on writing about people's lives.

What was the speaker's challenge after completing a year of fieldwork in Cyprus?

The speaker's challenge was not knowing how to write about the stories and experiences they wanted to share, as they didn't know what their own voice sounded like.

What idea does the speaker want to share with the audience regarding writing?

The speaker wants to share the idea of writing as a practice that teaches you to hear and trust your own voice.

How does the speaker suggest writing can help us look deeper into ourselves?

Writing can help us reach feelings, thoughts, and desires that we may not have been aware of, and connect us with what we've always wanted to do in life but were too scared to admit.

Why do people often find writing scary according to the speaker?

People find writing scary because it involves facing expectations and truly hearing their own voice, which can be intimidating.

What is the 'monkey mind' as referred to by Buddhists and how does it relate to writing?

The 'monkey mind' refers to the incessant movement of thoughts in our head, constantly jumping from one thought to another. Writing helps to quiet this noise, allowing for clearer self-reflection.

What are the benefits of writing by hand according to the speaker and recent studies?

Writing by hand is a mind and body activity that involves the whole body, and recent studies suggest it offers different developmental benefits for the brain compared to typing.

How does the speaker describe the practice of writing without thinking?

The practice involves sitting somewhere quiet and writing without thinking for 15 minutes, not stopping to check or correct, and not caring about spelling or lines on the paper.

What advice does the speaker give on maintaining discipline in writing?

The speaker advises to write regularly, even if not every day, and to repeat the practice despite any resistance or difficulties that arise.

What transformation does the speaker believe writing can bring to our lives?

The speaker believes that writing can transform our lives by helping us look deeper within ourselves and others, understand our own voice, and discover what we truly want to do in life.