Write about what bothers you

Write about what bothers you

by Jordan Peterson

What might you write about? Write about how things bug you.

We come across things that make us think “That is so annoying that really bugs me.” That is the definition of annoying.

Thats your destiny. It is yours to solve. And you can tell that because its got you. That is why it is bugging you. Because you are the guy to figure it out. And maybe you think, “well, I can’t”. Its like, “oh well, thats your problem.” And you think, “I don’t want that problem”. Thats your destiny. Thats your devil. Thats your Satan. Thats your adversary. Thats your challenge.

And that will make you who you could be if you contend with what bothers you.

And just imagine you contended with everything that bothered you.

Well, first of all, you might be of great service to other people. Because if it bothers you, there’s some other people it bothers too.

And second, if you do contend with it, well it won’t bother you anymore. And then what a deal that would be, that means you could play and have some fun with a light heart, you know, and have some real peace.

Your destiny is manifest within the problems that seize you.

And so if you are writing, write about something that bothers you. Why address an easy topic? Its already been addressed. Thats why its easy. Its the difficult topics that are compelling, that force you to develop. And writing is a great aid to that. You sort out the wheat from the chaff and you make it pointed and clear and concise and communicable and compelling. And you want to see if it’s compelling to you, because what you want is - it has to make you think, “Well, here’s this problem and it bugs me and here’s how I can move forward. Not only despite that, but also maybe because of it.”

And to notice that your attention can transcend the catastrophe.

And then your problems, they become, well thats the gold inside the dragon. Its exactly the same idea. You face the bloody dragon and you get the gold. You rescue your dead father and now he’s part of you. You resurrect the dead. Thats all of that, from looking at what bothers you.

Yeah, you do that with poetic intuition and inspiration. And editing and careful use of words. And thats magic. Magic words.