(follow-up article to More Than a Fan—A Participant I wrote last week)
As I said last week, I am a fan of writing. I have a deadline on a proposal in January. I also have a devo book to type and edit that I have not looked at in several months. Not to mention a couple of children’s books locked in my computer. And the articles I plan to write and send to various magazines. My alarm is set for 5am every morning.
While school is in session, my 5am alarm give me an hour to write, research and study. During the summer I could have over three hours because the kids sleep late. However, I fail. My passion to write and share the Word gives way to sleep. I hit my snooze more times than I will admit. I tell myself every evening I will do better and get up to write, but I fail over and over.
I might be a decent fan of my life but I’ve come to realize am a horrible participant in my own life. Does this sound familiar? It doesn’t matter what you are passionate about, if you are like most, you feel like you can do better. That is why self-help books sell over $700 million annually.
Do you have a passion for something, but something always gets in the way. I seriously try to be a good wife, mother, homemaker and teacher before writer and blogger, but I decided a long time ago that if I was going to write after the kitchen was clean, the laundry was put away, the toilets scrubbed and the dust bunnies kept at bay, I would never write.
Don’t get me wrong. I get a lot of stuff done during the day to keep my family fed, clothed and in a comfortable home, but my passion to write, the desire that lies within me, the talent and gift God gave me has to be my choice to use. Just like the three men given the talents in the Bible. Two chose wisely an DID something. The third DID nothing. Sometimes I am both and I get frustrated when I am the third. Does anyone else relate?
But alas, I never give up. Here are some tips that I find helpful to get me motivated to write. They can be adapted for any time of day and anything you want to accomplish.
1. Most Importantly…Do Everything to the Glory of the Lord Who Made You; Bring a Smile to His Face
2. Make a Plan
Since I have several projects to work on, I have to make a plan the night before. If I don’t, I will say to heck with it and go back to snuggle with my husband a couple of hours. That is very tempting, too. Make a plan to participate in your passion.
3. Exercise Before You Begin
If I will immediately participate in some jumping jacks or run in place, the cobwebs go away quickly and I feel like staying awake to work. It gets my blood pumping and I feel energized. Energy drinks don’t last long and are accompanied with a l
o
w. However, I love, love my coffee all day long.
4. Drink Lemon Water
I also drink a shot of lemon water to wake up. I put two or three drops of essential oil in a shot glass with water. You could use a fresh lemon too. Just squeeze a quarter of a lemon in the shot glass and drink. If you are a morning writer, drink a large glass of water before you go to bed. It is not only good for you, you will have to go the bathroom in the morning, thus, getting you out of bed.
5. Have a Deadline
I seem to have no problem with deadlines appointed by others. I write articles for the NOW Magazine. However, when it is a deadline appointed myself, I find excuses to prolong it sometimes indefinitely it seems. I try to write my deadlines on a calendar and stick to it. This is why I need number 6.
6. Have Accountability Friends
I have some good friends who help me with my writing goals. They occasionally ask me how it is going. They will text me early in the morning to get me out of bed and I do the same for them.
7. Take the Next Step
Find the next step to your passion. Is it writing? Find a magazine to submit to. Ask a blogger friend if you can be a Guest Writer on their blog. (I am looking for guest bloggers all the time…hint, hint). Want to be a nurse? Take a class. Want a new job? Send out resumes. Take the necessary steps to your goal. Stagnant water only draws bugs and varmints.
Seven is the perfect number to stop with.
I’d love to know what your strategies are to get inspire, keep a schedule, and feel accomplished. Write me in the comment section below and if your found this helpful, share with the convenient tabs above the title.
No comments:
Post a Comment