Despite your New Year’s resolutions, are you still having trouble getting motivated when it comes to writing? We came across this great PeaceandProjects.com article by Melissa Gorzelanczyk that we hope will convince you to sit down and put your pen to the page.
– Sara
How Permission Can Make or Break the New Year
By Melissa Gorzelanczyk
If you don’t already know, I wrote a novel.
During the month of November, I met my goal of writing 50,000 words by the end of the month. Clink. I’ll cheers to that.
The process taught me a lot about motivation. The lessons I’ve learned can apply to your life goals, too. Ready? Here’s the biggest lesson so far:
Quit needing permission to do what you want to do. Just start doing it.
It’s a little funny that I spent so much time dreaming of becoming a published author. I told people writing books was my dream. I wrote it down on resumes. I talked about it with Mr. Right.
The funny part is that I never got around to doing the one thing that would make my dream come true – writing a book. That really baffles me now 50,000 words later. I know this first draft is just the beginning of what it means to write a whole novel, but at the same time, I’m amazed at how “easy” it was to do.
Yes. I said it. Writing a novel was easy.
As in, I just had to start writing it. I had to put words on a page. I had to wake up, open my laptop and clack away on the keys.
What is your dream?
I want you to take a minute and apply this mindset to your goals in life. For instance, I have a dear friend that dreams of being an interior designer someday. Her house is the most beautiful, thoughtfully designed home I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen a lot of beautiful homes!
The thing is, she thinks she needs a degree to cash in on her dream. I don’t.
She probably needs one for credibility within a design firm, sure. (Although I’d happily debate that.) My point is, the only permission she truly needs comes from within. She needs to say, okay, here’s what I know and here’s how I can help people.
Here is my gift to the world.
What’s stopping you?
I’m making this sound really easy again and well, that part is easy, just like writing a book. There are other details along the way, like character development, themes and grammar – those things can come later.
For now, give yourself permission to do something. It could be anything, a flyer, a website, a Facebook profile. Do something that brings you one step closer to your dream.
Write 2,500 words today. And tomorrow. And the day after that.
You don’t need permission for that, except from yourself.
How to give yourself permission
Start to build momentum toward your goals, one word at a time.
Leo Babauta of Zen Habits said the question is whether self doubt will stop you from doing amazing things.
Matt Chevy of Life Without Pants said he’s both overcome – and continues to struggle with – second guessing.
It’s the truth. We all have self doubt. But we can’t let it win.
Satya Colombo didn’t wait for permission to launch his freedom business summit. You don’t have to wait either.
Go out and do that thing you want to do, even if it’s just a tiny chunk of it. Start with 2,500 words. Today. Now. You heard me.
Click here to read the full article at www.peaceandprojects.com.
