Discomfort. Not pain.

While pain is a warning, discomfort is a reminder. Reminding us to notice, and wait, before reacting. True for both writing and yoga.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this saying. And already forgot who said it.

For weeks I’ve been stuck in a writer’s dry spell. I’m at a point where the words no longer flow, but I need to pay more attention to structure, plot, and the red thread that ties it all together.

If I’m being completely honest, there was just a lot of sitting in front of the computer screen and staring at the chapters. Hours went by and I was still stuck—not in the sense that I didn’t do anything for the story, but that I had nothing to show for it.

That was an uncomfortable place to be, especially for days. For the first time in months, I started to miss my daily word goal of 1,000 words—sometimes I’d shoot for 2,000. Even on the days that weren’t so good, I’d still have something written down.

But in this phase of the creative process, the progress is less visible.

The discomfort of being stuck started to remind me, gently: “If you don’t get yourself out of here soon, your mean inner critic will get louder by the day. And you know she’s gorgeous and brutal, and you won’t be able to survive her.”

I knew I was doing it. Engaging with it, even while stuck. I felt that discomfort and frustration because I was trying to get somewhere. And changing course might just be the move for me. But to where? And how?

That’s when my tutor came in. The exact right person I need and trust, to tell me one thing to do, and one thing to try. The trick? An old-school chapter breakdown. And you know what? It worked.

It’s not like I never thought of doing it. It’s that I saw too many possibilities—too many things I could or should do. It’s that I wasn’t sure because I’m still new at this. And I just needed someone who’s walked the path to tell me one thing to do. So I did it. And now I’m unstuck.

That’s what tutors and teachers and coaches do for people who need them.

We may change our way of engagement because of them.

Now, carry on.