Last year I participated in the 31 days of writing along with a lot of other talented bloggers.  It was a challenge to think of a topic that you could talk about for 31 days straight.  While I completed the 31 days, and was extremely proud that I was able to stick with it, there was times when I doubted whether I had anything of real worth and value to contribute.  I’ll bet you have those moments as well.  Silent thoughts inside of your head trying to convince you to give up when you haven’t even really gotten started yet.

When doubt creeps in it is so easy to say, “You’re right!” while throwing in the towel.  But … please don’t.  You do have a lot to offer the world.  We need to read your words and hear what you’re speaking straight from your heart.  You do have something of worth and value to share.

Don’t let doubt keep you from joining in on this challenge in October.  If you’re unsure of a topic, there are two bloggers stepping up to the plate to offer you prompt words to get the juices flowing.  One is Kate, the host of Five Minute Fridays.  The other is Denise, who I have come to know and love through an (in)Courage group for writers that I participated in two Winters ago.  If you’d rather not write on a specific topic for 31 days, then join in on their prompt words.  But, if you’re just not feeling inspired at all, just write from your heart.  You cannot go wrong sharing your words that way.

Maybe you have a story inside of you screaming to get out.  Or, perhaps you need to talk about the pain from your past as a form of therapy.  I have used my blog for this purpose before.  Sometimes when the pain is so great, you just cannot get the words to slip from your lips.  You feel unable to speak, as you just do not want to talk about it out loud to any one.  That’s okay.  Some of the greatest forms of therapy for me has come from writing it all out.  Whether it is a letter to someone that has wronged me that I just write for the sole purpose of getting it out of me and onto paper or onto the computer screen with the intent of deleting or printing out and burning the paper afterwards as a form of release … it helps to write!

If I find that I’m stewing over something that is greatly troubling me, it helps to be released from my self made prison by writing about it.  If I harbor it all inside of my heart, it will fester.  I know that I will feel better once I release it, and so … out it comes.  This is easier for some, while it is much harder for others.  I do understand this as well.  Words flow once I really get started, whereas my husband, for example, struggles to express himself with words.  Take however long you need.  The point isn’t to rush through it.  The whole purpose is to get it out of you so you’ll begin to feel better.

Maybe you’d rather not write about something so personal.  If you choose not to delve into painful experiences from your past in these 31 days, that is completely understandable as well.  Maybe it’s 31 days of prayers you’d rather write about to encourage someone around you.  That would be AWESOME, by the way!

Just … write.

Do not let the doubt crowd out your creative thoughts that are just begging to come out.

I’d like to encourage you to accept the 31 day challenge, whether you write on a blog, in a journal, or write letters to people that have offended you or caused you grief in life (letters to later be ripped up or burned).

Join us in this challenge to write for 31 days straight beginning October 1st.