The image above was created with a Wordle. Â The words in the image are all drawn from this blog. Sometimes I like to use Wordle to try and see what sort of things I am talking about in my blog.
I know that sounds silly, but sometimes I get lost here too. Sometimes I get so caught up in the chaos and cacophony of daily life that I miss things. So I try to do what I can to slow down. take a deep breath and just look around.
That is important, slowing down that is. I stop, close my eyes and take stock of my life. Â Look, listen and give thanks. It is not an exaggeration to say that I actively work at doing this. But it is not an exaggeration to say that I am not always good at it.
My mind races at a 198.322 miles a minute. It means that when I am on my game I am good. It means that if all cylinders are firing you don’t want to take me on in a game of Trivial Pursuit because I’ll bury you in mounds of useless minutiae. I can’t tell you why so much of that stuff is collected inside my melon or why I am so good at recalling it.
But there are two sides to everything, unless you are  triangle in which case there are three. Anyhoo, the flip side is that sometimes I can get lost in analysis. Sometimes I can over think things and get mired in the muck and morass you find in analysis.
It means that sometimes when I am feeling a little beat up I can get lost in the world inside my head. It is a beautiful world. It is amazing, inspiring, and incredible inside. It is also cold, damaging and dangerous. There are beasties that will eat you up and magicians that can save your soul.
I never lose sight of the fact that the wizard is a man. He always has been. I didn’t need Dorothy, Toto or the Scarecrow to tell me that.
Finish What You Start
Yesterday I wrote about how Dad Bloggers could use Amazon to make money writing. Someone pointed out that you don’t have to be a dad blogger to use Amazon so I am confirming here that they are correct. Every now and then I do something to try and help my SEO efforts, but that is a side note.
The real point is that for a while now I have felt like I am running in mud and not finishing all that I start. It is beyond irritating and something that cannot continue. I mention it because the things that aren’t getting finished are related to Amazon effort. Â I am not making as much progress with some efforts as I want to and I need to figure out what is holding me back.
I have to hold myself accountable for the majority of that. I have to look at the guy in the mirror and ask him if he has any intention of kicking it from 3rd into 4th or maybe even 5th.
We all have crap to deal with. We all have challenges. When I look at my March archives they are filled with a slew of posts that relate some of the ones I am dealing with. Â One of the reasons that I look back at these is because it also delineates progress. It gives me a way to see that I am moving ahead even when it doesn’t feel like I am.
I am not Caesar. You won’t find Brutus and company stabbing me in the back with a bunch of knives and if they do you can bet they’ll be surprised. Who wears a Kevlar vest under his toga? Jack does, that is who.
Small Victories
So the plan is to break it all up into small bite size pieces. Divide and conquer is the order of the day. Plan and execute, plan and execute.
What is holding you back? Or should I ask who is holding you back? Are you going to let them do it or will you break those chains. Me, I am my own worst enemy and biggest critic, but I already knew that.
That should give me an edge on figuring out how to shut that loud mouth up. How about you. What are you waiting for.
This is a very important one for me. I remember a few bloggers that took a short break (I didn’t notice that they were gone) for a few weeks, and when they came back online, they had finished writing awesome ebooks. I just couldn’t believe it.
This experience made me think about what I had been doing during that time. And I came up with nothing. I was writing blog posts, and commenting, and doing things as usual, and I had started on three novels, and four short stories, but I hadn’t finished anything. And that’s really what counts, at least when it comes to business.
I’m still thinking about writing a Kindle single 🙂
It is frustrating sometimes to see how much progress others have made relative to our own.
Except the thing is that comparing isn’t very helpful.
What did the guy in the mirror have to say?
I will admit the only thing you have to fear is fear itself……er, uh I meant to say it is me that is holding me back if I were to think I’m being held back. I guess I’m still trying to find enough ‘want to’ to kick it up to the next level. I know I can if I choose to do so, but I’m not feeling it yet.
Maybe when you figure it out I will just emulate you…..
Well Mr. Dorman I’d be curious to see what happens when you kick it up a notch.
Maybe I’ll wait to emulate you instead. 🙂
Emulating each other; this will be something to watch out for! 🙂 I will bring my bag of popcorn along!
Like you I would say I am holding myself back. Though I try my best not to; I feel I need to be a critic to myself so that I can improve on many areas. I have words to describe myself and not all of them are pleasant but yes, that doesn’t stop me from just going on and trying further. I know I will be this harsh even if I make it; but then I am letting me judge me; others don’t have to do that! 🙂
And even if they do, I ain’t listening!
What I am waiting for; nothing I feel; I am moving..something is waiting for me I am hoping! Something big and bright and beautiful! 🙂
I think it is wonderful that you feel like you are making progress. That is the sort of thing that really lends itself to making us feel like we should keep going.
Just a great way to help stay motivated.