How the Queen of Creativity’s strategy helped me ditch alcohol

Every morning (I’m currently on a 51-day streak), I make time for a little ritual called Morning Pages.

Shortly after I wake up, I write three long-hand pages detailing every thought going through my head. I find this stream-of-consciousness exercise to be a nice palate cleanser that starts my waking hours off on the right foot.

The creator of morning pages is one Julia Cameron, the author of the wildly popular Artist’s Way. Although I’m a little embarrassed to admit I’ve never made it through all the exercises in Artist’s Way after various attempts, Morning Pages was one undertaking that stuck.

In an article published in the Guardian last week, Cameron revealed that the Morning Pages played an important role in helping her overcome drug and alcohol addiction.

I didn’t know Cameron had struggled like this, though I can’t say I’m surprised. As I mentioned in the introduction to this fledgling publication, I really do believe that very creative, active-minded people are probably more susceptible to substance abuse. Whether it’s novelty seeking or looking to quiet the mind, it seems like a common trap. It is that — a trap — but I know from personal experience how seductive it can be.

Cameron lived a lot harder than I did when I was a journalist, too. Before and following her divorce from film director Martin Scorsese (another factoid I was unaware of), she was hooked on both cocaine and alcohol. Things got so bad that even her fellow reporter at the time, Hunter S. Thompson, told her she might want to dial it back. And if Hunter S. Thompson tells you that, you might have an issue.

Part of Cameron’s journey back to sobriety was her Morning Pages routine.

I don’t know what it is, but the process is both very freeing and very soothing for someone who has constantly racing thoughts as I, and evidently Cameron, do. The author of the piece above also swears by the pages, which she likens to “going for a run first thing.”

If you’re looking for another tool to help you adjust your own behaviour, I’d suggest reading that article and perhaps picking up a copy of The Artist’s Way to read more about it and check out some of the other exercises she suggests for creatives who are feeling “blocked.”

And if you’re looking to beat your own bad habit, don’t feel bad at all. Even the Queen of Creativity struggled at one point. Draw inspiration from your heroes who’ve fought the same battle as you and keep moving forward!

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