You don’t have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.
Les Brown
Why do we struggle so much with the just getting started? I started re-reading this book this weekend that answers many of those questions.
This Year I Will…: How to Finally Change a Habit, Keep a Resolution, or Make a Dream Come True
I had a wonderful teacher in Portland, Oregon who taught me about the power of accomplishing small goals daily and I mean small. These little successes drive you to do more and feel good about yourself. For example if your office is cluttered, pick up one paper a day and do something with it. File it, shred it or mail it. That’s it just one paper. Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it, but according to psychologists the overwhelming feeling when you look at the hundreds of papers triggers the flight reaction. More likely when you commit to the one paper you will do ten or fifteen but the one paper is your success anything else is gravy. This can be done with writing too. Maybe 30 minutes a day sounds overwhelming to you. Try one sentence. That’s it. Commit to writing one sentence a day. Chances are you’ll feel so good about that one accomplishment that you’ll write more than one, that will become a good habit and you’re on your way.
Today, think about what you will name 2008. The Year of the Published Novel, The Year of the Healthy Body, the Year of the New Home, The Year of the College Degree, The Year of Writing Daily. Now get back to work!
Lovingly,
The Writing Nag