I'm struggling to make good on a commitment to myself to write a book this year. As fall runs into to the holidays and a soon-to-be-January, the likelihood of timely completion has dimmed, and I feel like kind of a loser about the whole thing, which doesn't exactly encourage me to sit down and write.
Where do we get some fresh hope when we need it most -- when we feel weak and lost, ineffectual? I want to know.
Research turned up five very specific tactics, one being to recall times when things DID go your way. To get at this, ask:
- When have I felt most successful and strong?
- How did I come across that strength?
- How can I do that again now?
This sounded like a good plan.
My first response to the questions was a memory from after high school. My dad and I agreed that I would try to place out of some college hours by taking a series of essay tests.
Let me say up front that Dad was nothing but encouraging. He gladly paid ($100, I think) for the tests, saying it was worth the gamble, that if anyone could pass, I could.
But I had to specify if I was shooting for a full year of credit, or just one semester. If I tried for a year and the writing wasn't up to snuff, I got nothing but a kick to the ego and lost my dad's money.
After some discussion, I remember so clearly that he said I should do as I thought best, but advised me to go for it. He believed in me, even put his money on me, and so I did too. I took the longer test, and we waited for the results. When they came in, I got to give him the news. I'd earned an entire year of credit in English.
That's when my usually-reserved dad let out a whoop, picked me up and swung me around in a huge hug, proud tears in his eyes. Just typing this out now makes me incredibly happy.
Imagine that. A memory from thirty years ago still gives me an undeniably powerful feeling of success. And it DOES give me hope. It reminds me that I can perform under pressure, that I'm a good writer and that this ability has always helped me connect to people, exactly the purpose of the book.
I believe I can do it again. I have hope.
If you need the same kind of booster shot, come out to my next speaking engagement at Inspire Yoga Studio (see sidebar). We'll learn more about this and those other tactics, and begin to apply them too.
I'd love to see you there, and feel free to bring a friend. We always have fun. :)
