Pressure

KiteI put myself under a lot of pressure. People have pointed this out to me my entire life. It used to always be a warning—I was about to crush myself, and they wanted me to ease up to avoid it. I didn’t usually listen, and often ended up running myself into the ground.

As I’ve gained more experience, I’ve started understanding where to draw the line. It’s hard for me not to run full-tilt until whatever project I’m working on is completed. Yard work, home improvements, learning a new song, finishing a scarf, etc.

I still run myself into the ground sometimes, but those occurrences are the exception now. The fundamental change in how I operate came to me through my writing.

You can’t sit down and write an 80,000 word novel in a day. Or even two days or three. Continue reading “Pressure”

Wanting and Having

The Path

In yoga and Tai Chi, maintaining your balance can be tricky. I used to wobble on one leg while getting into Tree pose and fall right over during (modified) Lord of the Dance. I tried imagining my energy flowing through whichever foot was on the ground, rooting me to the spot. I tried to improve my balance by stretching one arm forward and pushing backwards with my leg to keep me steady. It was a change in my mindset that finally made my efforts more consistently stable. Continue reading “Wanting and Having”

Planning to Plan

Tall Trees
I see these trees… Where is the forest, again?

Earlier this year, I moved away from using a planner for a while. That was a Very Bad Thing. It wasn’t just bad in terms of not knowing where and when I needed to be places or what I was supposed to be doing. It was bad for my motivation.

Without goals written down where I could look at them every day, I didn’t make the kind of progress I need to—that I know I’m capable of. I wasted time, and time is the most precious gift we all receive.

When I’m actively planning out my days, I’m much more likely to move forward on a path to what matters most to me. Continue reading “Planning to Plan”