Learning to Balance Both Sides of My Brain
When I started my first blog, it would take me hours to get a post written; not because I struggled with finding something to say, but because I’d edit and format as I went. Not only is it a long process, but it halts the free flow of ideas I’ve since found to be essential to my writing, both for blogs and fiction. Since I learned to get the words on the page first (often with a gazillion typos), I can typically knock out 1,000 words or more in less than 30 minutes.
As time went on and I got used to simply spewing words out as they came up from the depths of my subconscious, I learned the value of giving the analytical, critical side of my brain something to keep it occupied and out of the way. As a result, editing takes a lot less time these days, and formatting flows easier as well. Even the typos are infrequent now.
An added advantage to going back over my completed work a few hours, or even a day later is I catch the less obvious goofs more easily. Approaching edits with a fresh perspective means I’m not as enmeshed in what I wrote. I give it time to percolate before I attempt to alter what came so freely when I was creating.
Rambling for a Reason
It used to be I’d beat myself up over the rambling nature of my posts. While composing, I’d 
think I was going off on all sorts of unrelated tangents. When I looked it over a few hours later, I’d realize those tangents actually made sense, and weren’t as rambling as they seemed when they first hit the page. Part of it, I believe is my non-linear brain, when left to its own devices, truly does manage to make a weird kind of sense.
What seems unrelated while I’m writing manages to wind its way around to the original point by the end of the post. So I’ve learned to let my subconscious take control of my fingers and type whatever it comes up with, trusting by the time I reach the end, it will have reached some kind of logical conclusion about the original point of the post.
Even on days when I have to type a few lines, or even a few paragraphs before I come up with a topic, trusting in my subconscious to find its way tends to result in saying what needs to be said. Despite the fact that I typically write posts 3-4 weeks ahead now, I’m even finding what I write today will still be relevant in 3 or 4 weeks. I can’t say why, given some of what I write is based on what’s going on in my world, or the outside world at a moment in time, but with few exceptions, I’ve learned it works.
Trusting the Decision-Making Process
Trusting myself completely didn’t come easily. While allowing the analytical side of my brain to reign supreme, I tended to analyze things to death; second guessing myself time and time again. In many ways, I wasn’t unlike Chidi from “The Good Place”, wandering around hashing and re-hashing all the possibilities, and never making a decision. I couldn’t begin to say how it might have affected others, but I know it frustrated the heck out of me.
Of course, the analytical side will rear it’s ugly head at the least convenient times. I had to stop typing to make sure I’d spelled “Chidi” correctly. Those are the times I have to forcibly kick my inner critic to the curb so the words can flow again. Otherwise, I stop every couple of minutes to mull over the right word to use in a sentence. Even there, I’ve learned it doesn’t really matter as I’ll catch anything that doesn’t sound right during the editing process. Sometimes, I even find the word I grabbed for the moment is the one I wanted anyway.
Everyone has an inner critic and a creative fighting for control inside them. When you let one side or the other get too much screen time, as it were, you lose your sense of balance. Either you do as I did and analyze the crap out of everything, whereby decision-making becomes an almost onerous task. You know you’re going to get all wound up in the possibilities, the pros, and the cons, and lose sight of what you actually want from the choice you’re trying to make. Sometimes, logic and reason aren’t the best factors for making the decision anyway.
Balance Your Brain With Equal Time
Sure, there’s a time and a place to let your analytical side run the show; buying a house, 
negotiating a job, or managing your investments, to name a few. But there are just as many times when a gut decision makes more sense; where to go for dinner, what movie to see, what to do with your leisure time, and of course, writing. I suspect even those who outline their writing projects first still allow creativity to flow once they get started. They might stick to their plan, but what happens in between the bullet points is completely creative, and perhaps almost as random as what pantsers like me do.
Nowadays, my creative side; my inner child gets a lot more time to play than it used to. Sometimes, I can even shut my analytical, adult side down for the better part of a day (and trust me, as one who used to allow that side to rule, even several hours is a huge accomplishment). Eventually, if I trust my process, I know it will all balance out. My Higher Self knows when it’s time to be analytical, and when creativity is a better choice.
When One Side Struggles, Do the Opposite
Essentially, I’ve learned the old adage “all work and no play makes for a dull person” (not an exact quote), but all play and no work isn’t the answer either. There are simply times when you have to be the responsible adult; pay the bills, shop for groceries, do chores. The sad truth is, your creative side gets bogged down without healthy food, clean clothes, and a reasonably uncluttered environment.
Even a self-confirmed slob like me finds comfort in having things in their proper places, and a clean-ish desk to work on. There’s a lot of truth in what they say about how a cluttered space halts the free flow of thoughts and ideas. I’ve learned from experience that when I put even a couple of things away that have been out of place for too long, I unclog the part of my brain which produces ideas; not only for writing topics, but for ways to improve my life and my business.
If you tend to lean towards one side or the other too much, I suggest you try changing things up. If you’re too analytical, you could pull out a coloring book, or like me, throw words on a page willy nilly. If you’re already spending too much time playing, start with something easy like rearranging a small area in your home. It doesn’t take a lot to make the shift and let your inner sense of balance find it’s way. In my experience, the first step really is getting out of your own way.
About the Author
Sheri Conaway is a Holistic Ghostwriter, and an advocate for cats and mental health. Sheri 
believes in the Laws of Attraction, but only if you are a participant rather than just an observer. Her mission is to Make Vulnerable Beautiful and help entrepreneurs touch the souls of their readers and clients so they can increase their impact and their income. If you’d like to have her write for you, please visit her Hire Me page for more information. You can also find her on Facebook Sheri Levenstein-Conaway Author. And check out her new group, Putting Your Whole Heart Forward.
Be sure to watch this space for news of the upcoming releases of ” Rebuilding After Suicide” and “Sasha’s Journey”.
