It’s Friday. Time for the occasional round-up of the week’s Lessons Learned.

My muse understands sovereignty.

She knows exactly what she wants and she knows how to get it. That is one clear and insistent voice. On the one hand, I’d be a fool not to obey it. On the other, I want to shout, “You’re not the boss of me!” I need to be sovereign too, but without alienating her, you know? I like it when she hangs around. I like learning from her. But, well, writing is hard. Our playing nicely together needs to include more recess and naps. Or something.

Connection rocks.

Whether it’s my mastermind group, students, old and new friends on Twitter, or my Tuesday afternoon partner-in-doing at a cafe (three cheers for the shocking productivity of getting away from one’s desk!) – it’s better together. This is nothing new, but I don’t know if I will ever cease to be amazed by the energy that comes from connecting with one’s tribe (even after one has been put through the wringer by one’s muse). [blows grateful kisses to you all]

I’ve learned a lot in the last year.

Speaking of writing, I’ve been reviewing material I wrote about a year ago in preparation for a new course – and it’s weird. It’s like reading my own work and another author’s work at the same time. Some of it still seems smart and relevant, but there are points at which I have no idea what I’m talking about. While it’s more exciting than discouraging that I pretty much need to start from scratch – I’m glad for the clarity of knowing more now than I did then – I’m still making peace with the time and energy that will take.

Because it means choosing. This thing expanding means something else has to go. Oh, if only I had the capacity to give attention to everything I want to do right now!

I am on a precipice.

Which, of course, is a little scary. I’ve been aware of being in this space this for awhile now, but this week I realized what I’m afraid of. I’m on the edge of changing an old, worn out pattern of behavior and replacing it with a better one – which is good. But I’m terribly nervous I’ll slip back into old ways of thinking and doing. Instead of hoping it’ll all work out, I’m giving lots of thought to the flotation devices needed here to support this transition (maybe my muse can help me).

When it’s not about choosing, it’s all about transitions. The longer I do what I do, the more people I work with, the more closely I look at this stuff – the more I’m convinced it’s the spaces between things that mess us up. Give attention to creating bridges and safety nets for yourself – and you’ll be okay.

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What did you learn this week?

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Related posts:

1. Obeying My Muse