Lissa M. Cowan - Founder of Write to Calm

THE FULL STORY

I know what it's like to feel so stressed that you're afraid to let your guard down. When I was 30 years old, I worked as a communications professional with the government, clocking 60-80-hour weeks writing speeches, articles, news releases... It was at that time that I became very ill with endometriosis, a debilitating chronic disease whereby the tissue lining the uterus grows in other areas of the body, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or bladder. These endometriosis lesions become inflamed and bleed, causing pain and other symptoms.

Work & Relationship Imbalances

During those years I had demands coming at me from all directions. I would go into the staff bathroom and cry as the pain that I didn't know at the time was endo, wreaked havoc on my body and emotions. I feared for my job, yet eventually realized that losing my job was the least of my concerns. At the time I was also in a dysfunctional relationship with a sociopath and narcissist who was verbally abusive. I had body issues related to teenage bulimia, suffered from anxiety, and was severely lacking in self-confidence.

The Body Knows

My illness forced me to stop driving myself so hard and take an honest look at my life. I began to see a therapist, got back to practicing yoga and meditation, and most importantly, I returned to writing—a passion of mine since I was a kid.

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Over the years I've realized that writing is much more than a simple art. Writing has the power to heal, reveal, and help us to find our centres—our unique and wondrous selves.

Background

My intuitive guidance throughout these Write to Calm courses and my own mindful writing practice are informed by daily meditation, years of bodywork encompassing craniosacral therapy (CST), yoga, Radical Wholeness embodiment techniques; Jungian dreamwork; and my own journey living with chronic pain over 20 years and coming home to my body.

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More about Lissa...

Lissa M. Cowan's signature 21 Day Writing Meditation Course has close to 3,000 students and has been rated a top Art & Writing Course on DailyOM, a popular website that offers holistic living for the mind, body, and spirit.

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She is the author of MilkFever, a historical fiction novel (Demeter Press), co-translator from French of a book of poetic prose titled Words That Walk in the Night (Vehicule Press), and other fiction and non-fiction. Visit her author website for more about her writing, and the writing life.

She holds an MA in English Studies from the Université de Montréal and a post-graduate diploma in writing from the University of Victoria, B.C. Along with teaching Write to Calm courses online, she also teaches in the writing program at Calgary University.

She lives in the Gatineau Hills (Quebec, Canada) in a house high in the trees with her cat Toiyabe, a laid-back Nevadan. 

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