War and Piece of Cake
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Resources · Try it yourself

Practices from the book.

The things I learned the hard way, written out so you can try them yourself.

Try this when

something is sitting in your chest, and you can’t name it.

Freeform writing

Try this when

a part of your body feels like the enemy, and you want to listen.

Conversations with your body

Try this when

you’ve tried to let something go, and it keeps coming back.

Letting go and forgiving

01

Try this when

something is sitting in your chest, and you can’t name it.

Freeform writing

A Roto-Rooter for the mind.

How it came to me

When I first touched how much anger I was carrying, it scared me. I’m a kind person, and I was afraid that if I let it out, I would hurt someone. The page could take it. People didn’t have to.

For the feelings that haven’t found their way out yet. Anger, sadness, frustration. You don’t need to know what you feel. You just need to keep the pen moving.

Before you start

A quiet house. At least ten minutes. A candle burning, if you have one. No music, no interruptions.

  1. 1Put your pen on the page. From here on, you cannot lift it.
  2. 2Write whatever comes. Go, go, go. Keep writing, keep writing, keep writing.
  3. 3Nothing to say? Write that. “I have nothing to say. This is so annoying. I have nothing to say.” And keep going.
  4. 4When the time is up, stop. Don’t reread a single word.
  5. 5Burn it. It was never meant to be read. It was meant to come out.
02

Try this when

a part of your body feels like the enemy, and you want to listen.

Conversations with your body

Ask your body to be generous.

How it came to me

I asked my friend Paul why my body was holding on to so much. He said the body often keeps secrets, or pain, or protection, and that if I opened a dialogue with it, it would have real wisdom to share. He was right.

Your body has been holding on to information for you. This is how you ask for it. You can have a conversation with every part of you.

Before you start

A journal, and a pen with two colors, or two pens. Ten to fifteen minutes, no less. No interruptions.

  1. 1Set an intention. Ask your body to be generous, and to tell you what it has been holding on to for you.
  2. 2Choose a body part. Start with one you’re not the most upset with. I was really upset with my inner thighs. I didn’t start there.
  3. 3With one color, write your question. “Thighs, why are you still holding on to fat? Is there a message you’re trying to give me?”
  4. 4Switch hands and switch colors. With your other hand, let your body answer.
  5. 5If nothing comes right away, stay with it. Be patient. Eventually, it starts answering.
03

Try this when

you’ve tried to let something go, and it keeps coming back.

Letting go and forgiving

From resentment to gratitude.

How it came to me

It came out of a breakup that broke my heart. I just couldn’t seem to let it go. One night, I took some paper and started tearing.

For the hurts you keep carrying. The heartbreaks, and the smaller ones too: the times you felt slighted, hurt, or abandoned.

Before you start

Some sheets of paper, a pen, and a bowl. A quiet evening.

  1. 1Think of each hurt you’re still carrying. A person, a moment, a situation.
  2. 2For each one, tear a piece of paper to match the size of the pain. My heartbreak took a whole page. Others were tiny pieces.
  3. 3On each piece, write just the name. Nothing else.
  4. 4Put all the pieces in a bowl.
  5. 5Pick one, and write the blessing, the lesson, or the gift that pain gave you. Then pick the next.