“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate”. — Carl Jung
I’ve been doing some meditation and breath work before I start my day, so I decided to start a volume of meditation music.
I first learned this practice in Italy during Script to Pitch, and honestly, it’s done more than just calm me down. It’s helping me notice patterns I didn’t even know were running the show.
Side note: if you are a writer, screenwriter, or have a story you want to workshop, I highly recommend applying for the next Script to Pitch event. You can do so here!
That week in Italy changed the way I see myself as an artist. I have more confidence in my abilities, a better understanding of the business of the Film and TV industry, and I’ve learned how to relate to myself differently. How to take care of myself and show myself compassion.
One of the biggest things I took away from that week was the breath work, thanks to special guest speaker Evangeline Lilly. There is so much I could say about her. Aside from the fact that she’s an incredibly talented actress and writer with so much wisdom and experience, I will not soon forget what she did for us writers during that weekend. If you’re ever lucky enough to spend time with her, you’ll soon find out that she’s one of the coziest, most giving people you could hope to be around. And what’s cool is that she has a Substack too, and you should check it out here.
I would wake up and the first thing I would reach for was my phone. I could feel the day start off on the wrong foot as my mind went a million miles a minute.
This breath work is not something I had ever done before. But man, it is saving my ass. And my ass needs saving. I can be so in my head all the time, sitting in fear, worry, and anxiety. I still do that sometimes, even with this practice. But there’s something about waking up and taking the time to do it. Taking the time to focus, listen, and breathe. It is a beautiful and needed practice.
Before this, I would wake up and reach for my phone. I could feel the day start off on the wrong foot as my mind went a million miles a minute. I would work in this state of urgency instead of peace. When I do the breathing practice, it slows everything down. Even when challenging things come my way during the day, I move and think differently because I have taken that time at the start.
Something else clicked for me during that week in Italy. The distance between where I am and my dream is not that far. Or at least I see it differently. For a long time, I thought it was out of reach and would take years and years to achieve. I no longer think that. I do not really think in terms of time anymore. I think in terms of next steps. Little by little adds up to a lot.
For this month’s installment, I wanted to take a stab at writing something that is more soothing and less cinematic. Something less distracting but still interesting. I started with a soft pad sound, added another layer, and just kept writing without thinking too much about it. This piece is probably the longest I have done here. A common comment I get from readers is that they wish the music was longer. So here is a piece that stretches a bit more. It is about as long as I go in my breathing practice. 😉
My hope is that when you listen to this piece, it helps you on your way to peace and calm.
🎧 Headphones recommended.
What is your morning routine like? Do you reach for your phone first thing, or have you found something that centers you before the day takes off? And if you’ve tried breath work or meditation, what has your experience been with it? I’d love to hear what works for you, or what doesn’t. Drop a comment below and let’s talk about it.
Note: Have you downloaded the Substack app yet?
For Android: Go to the Google Play Store and tap “Install”.
For iOS: Go to the Apple App Store and tap “Get”.
