It's so easy to make excuses or allow little dark clouds to hang over our heads, but we don't have to let any of it stop us in our tracks.
The following three items are my notes from a class I attended way back in 2010. It wasn't about writing, but at the time I equated EVERYTHING I heard to what it meant for me as a writer.
1. Did you know that 2/3 of our thoughts during the day are negative. (The speaker said it has been scientifically proven, but I don't have a reference for that, so believe it or not as you see fit.) Why is that? (We discussed...) Then he said, "Negative thoughts are like a hole in our confidence bucket."
How many times do we knock ourselves down with negative thoughts or comments about our writing abilities? Each thought depletes our confidence by another drop. Every time we give ourselves credit for trying to improve, spend time revising, recognize a sentence that comes out just right, we begin to refill that confidence bucket.
2. "At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." Albert Schweitzer.
When he read this quote, I thought of all my blogger friends. Thank you for sharing your spark with me. Many times when I've been down I've read someone's blog and felt lifted and ready to plug along my journey a little longer.
So, THANK YOU for sharing and being you. No one can replace or fill the spot you fill in this world.
3. "If you think you can do a thing, or think you can't do a thing, you're right." Henry Ford.
Wow, think about how true that is.
He also quoted Yoda from the Empire Strikes Back.
At one point in Luke's training he tried to raise his X-wing from the
swamp and failed. Yoda then lifts it and sets it on solid ground with
ease. Luke complains that it is impossible and Yoda replies, "That is
why you failed."Now, I'm not going to point out the obvious connection between these three things and our goals as writers. I simply want you to think about how they apply to you personally.
Are you depleting your confidence with negative thinking?
Are you failing to reach your goals because you secretly think it is
impossible?
What are you going to do to get back on track?
6 comments:
Ah yes, positive thinking. It is the start.
And I love the Henry Ford quote. I've loved that quote since I first heard it. It is so true.
I spent last week feeling just like Eyore looks! Ugh. And I loved the quote by Albert Schweitzer. It's so true. I don't know where I'd be without my CPs support. :-)
As solitary as this "calling" is, at least we have a great support group waiting for us when we come out of the writing cave.
Great Post! Though my problem seems to be more on the time management front this time of year...I suppose that is a different type of motivation. Feeling pulled in umpteen different directions can leave you feeling like Eeyore has just lost his tail. :)
So true! This is actually what gets me down. I WANT to be writing, but there's the kids, driving here and there, the pull of other people who want to hang out with me and the kids, normal house chores, and the call of the lake or something. :)
When I want to write, but feel pulled in all these different directions I start to get angry more than down. Then I have to take a step back and remind myself that starting this August I'll get to be a stay at home writer mom. All my kids will be in school and I'll have all those hours to write (and clean and exercise). So my motivation for summer is more of a "be patient" mantra. It's coming.
Good luck finding your tail!
Sorry I missed you Liz! When I read the Henry Ford quote I thought of Yoda's "Do or do not, there is no try", thus the Star Wars reference.
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