Changing careers and transitioning from daredevil tanker pilot to an emotionally raw writer involves, unfortunately, writing. I say unfortunately not because I don’t like the exercise, but because I dislike my inability to do it gracefully, efficiently, and, most of the time, clearly. I can’t help but compare my flat, grey prose to, say, Shakespeare. They say these days, the experts do, to “write like you talk.” Well …
I mentioned earlier, briefly, that I set a goal to complete a tight manuscript for my adventure memoir book–the one I claim to be working on, the one I should be working on right now–by the end of April. In order to achieve said goal, I allotted a minimum of two hours each day for its progress. After a week For a year now, the time reserved for writing that book vanishes as if those hours within 24 never existed. Something always takes precedence like laundry, rearranging the silverware drawer, or–my favorite–self loathing.
My mind gotgets in the way and prevents me from taking any action all. To be honest, when it comes to writing I am a chicken shit. I can fly an over-grossed airplane close to the ground in mountainous terrain and hazardous weather all day long. But place in front of me a fresh piece of paper, or lonely blinking cursor on an otherwise blank monitor, and I break out in hives. It’s a matter of mentality and mine neededs mending.
If we don’t believe we can do something, then we can’t. We won’t. In order to change behavior, then, we need to change our minds. You can do this by simply reversing the negetive messagae. For example, I tell myself that I can’t possibly write an engaging book. Guess what? As long as I empower that belief, I won’t. I do, however, believe that I can write an emotionally charged paragraph. And eventually a whole string of paragraphs will fill a book. So in theory, believing in one paragraph transfers to the entire book .
If you don’t feel like inventing your own affirmations, there are literally millions available on the Web. I leaned on a few writing affirmations this week from a site called The Writing Life. This one helped for a day or two: ”I write daily with excitement, enthusiasm, and confidence.”
Fortunately, there are affirmations for just about everything. Here’s one of my favorites from Power Affirmations: “I am growing more and more attractive everyday.” You have no idea how much I’d like to believe that. I’ve watched my once youthful luster oxidize since my 36 34 31st birthday. The greys on my head have multiplied like a herd of captive rabbits on Viagra. Somehow my left nostril grows increasingly disproportional to my right, my knuckles look like miniature camel knees, and I have no idea where my right breast went.
Whether it’s your contrived affirmation or one that’s ready made, be sure to use positive verbs like will, am, can. Here’s a parting thought from Power Affirmations: What I imagine I can do, I can do!
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