I’ve learned a lot about writing over the past few years (enough to know I still have a long way to go). Paying special attention to writer’s block has turned up a wonderful piece of advice. Something scary enough to stop professional writers dead in their tracks deserves some attention. Something they might be able to overcome with more personality and strengths information… hmmm… but here goes.
Do doctors get doctor’s block? How about meteorologists – do they get meteorologists’ block? Do gardeners get gardener’s block? Accountants get accounter’s block? Cooks get cooker’s block? See where I’m going here? There are plenty of jobs out there – if you see them as just jobs. You can begin to see that a professional level of performance requires a professional mindset. Just do it, so to speak.
I can tell myself I’m no good at making wood furniture because it’s just my hobby. I would be way out-of-line to tell myself I can slack off raising my kids. I can’t – it’s part of who I am. I have a duty, a service, and a commitment to raise my kids and help my family.
By being committed to a duty, promise, and path of life, you do what it takes to get stuff done. Sure, some days are harder than others and your output isn’t tip-top. That’s okay – it happens to us all. On average, you do the best you can and you do fine.
What it Will Take for Effective Personal Change
The story’s the same for working on you. If you want to make you a better you, then you’ll have to be committed to change. You’ll choose to do what it takes to do more, be more, and grow more. Not because you’re doing it as a hobby, but because you know it’s what you’re meant to do.
Work on yourself because it’s your future and it’s in your control. What happens when you stop caring about your work and not controlling what gets done? You get some negative attention from your boss and that can turn into a lost job. Choose to win, put in the work, and your part is taken care of.
Simple, but Not Easy
Simple enough, right? But I won’t stop there. Changing your life for the better is a simple thing to think about, plan for, and do. Now, you might be thinking I’ve gone off the deep end with this one. Bear with me.
Change is simple. There is nothing complex about committing to doing things differently. You know smoking is bad for you, you decide to change, and you’re genuinely interested in doing it. See? That was really simple. No detailed math problems here.
But, personal change, or quitting smoking for that matter, is definitely not easy. Simple – easy – what’s the difference? Think I’m splitting hairs? I’m not.
Personal change is very simple, but not easy.
- It will require dedicated effort on your part.
- It will take time – sometimes a whole lot of time.
- It will take support from the people around you.
- It will take dropping some harmful habits you like.
- It will take structure, direction, and thinking.
- It will take work. A lot of work. Simple, not easy, work.
Writing a book is a simple process. You just put words to paper. No problem. But it sure as heck ain’t easy. The planning, the writing, the research, the rewriting, the editing, the advice, the review, the rewriting, the more rewriting, the formatting, and the confidence to get it all done.
The confidence to stand by your work and stay strong no matter what the critics say, no matter how rainy the day, and no matter how many times you get rejected by Oprah for a review. You just keep at it, putting a whole lot of simple work into focused effort.
Keep on keeping on. It won’t be easy, but I can guarantee personal change is simple.
What’s your biggest bear right now? What’s the next step you can take?
| Photo by: DVIDSHUB |