We follow the rules, do what we are supposed to do, and reap the reward at the end.
Follow the rules, get the prize. Easy.
Only I’m not so convinced that there really are any rules.
For one, rules can be circumvented. If you can find a way around the rule, while still technically not breaking the rule, then suddenly the rule doesn’t really exist.
And, rules can change (and quickly, too). Usually by someone or something powerful. And the rules that you have been following are now obsolete (along with your prize).
So what do you do when there are no rules? Break them all? Make your own? Go live by yourself on a mountain? Read more...
When I have a goal or I want something, I tend to get really caught up in the results that I’m looking for.
But what I’ve learned is that it’s better to focus on the process of what you’re doing, and let the results flow from there.
When I focus on results, I tend to tighten up creatively, because I’m attached to something particular happening. I miss good things along the way that might have helped me get to where I want to go, because they don’t seem to support the thing that I want.
I also miss out on a bit of adventure, because I’m trying too hard to hang on to certainty. Read more...
I‘m a great starter. I love to start things. It’s exciting, new and my energy is high.
I’m also a pretty decent finisher. Mostly because when you finish something then you get to start something new.
But it’s in the middle where I start to have issues.
In the middle, the novelty and excitement of a new thing has worn off, and the end is still a ways off. I find that where I sprint off at the beginning, in the middle I’m starting to drag my feet, trying to find the energy to keep moving forward.
Honestly, I just find middles a little boring. Which is why when I start something, I always make completion my goal. Otherwise I will start several things and never finish them. And then they will be sitting around, and I will never do anything with them. Read more...
Hi Everyone! This is just a quick note to let you all know that I have written a novel and it is now available as an e-book on Kindle and Smashwords.
Uncover is just over 40,000 words in length (about 160 pages), and is suspenseful, young adult contemporary fiction. You can purchase it for $4.99 at either of the above places. You can also sample it for free (roughly the first 3 chapters or so) at both places.
Here is the description:
Marissa wants to put this all behind her. Her best friend, Olivia, has been killed in a car accident, and her death has left more questions than answers for those who knew her best.Read more...
Even the tiniest motion forward is better than standing still (or going backward – although you can actually go backwards to move forward, but that’s another post). Huge problems become manageable when you commit yourself to going forward. Just a little forward motion every day will add up, so keep that in mind when it feels like you’re not making the progress you want.
Break It Down Into Simple Steps
One way to keep going forward is to break your problem down into simple steps. Every large undertaking is made up of a series of steps, make these as simple as possible, so that you can take one or two at a time and not feel overwhelmed. One tiny step at a time is still forward motion. Read more...
I can’t understand how the kitchen always needs to be cleaned. Dirty dishes, crumbs on the floor, spills on the counters. I know most people eat at least three times a day, but still, I feel like I am constantly cleaning the kitchen.
Even though I love having a clean kitchen, I can’t always bring myself to clean it up immediately after I’ve used it. It feels too tedious, too boring, too mundane. But eventually it needs to be done.
So I start cleaning it up, putting things back into the pantry, putting dirty dishes into the dishwasher, hand washing various pots and pans. Soon it’s all done and it feels great, but what about the fifteen or so minutes that I spent with my hands in dishwater? Is it just a necessary evil? Read more...
We tend to consume a lot of stuff. But we don’t always enjoy the stuff we consume. Likewise, sometimes there is something we would enjoy but we don’t pursue it for one reason or another.
If you really enjoy something, you should go towards that thing. It doesn’t matter if it’s expensive or inexpensive, produced by a large company or produced by one person, very popular or known only to a small group.
No matter what it is, where it came from, who made it or how it’s advertised, if you enjoy it, that’s all that matters. Read more...
I’ve been wanting to experiment with a video post for a while now, so here it is! This is just a (very) short video to “introduce” myself and say thank you! (If you are reading this in an email you may need to click through to the post to see the video.)
Small talk makes many people nervous. Especially those of us who are introverts or INFPs (like I am).
The good news is, your ability to make small talk can be refined over time. Going from inept to adept is just about keeping a few simple ideas in mind.
Small talk is about connection, not content.
You might be someone who enjoys having deep conversations about topics that really fascinate you with one or two other people. Keep making the time and space to do this. But when you are out and about in the world, it will probably be more appropriate to make small talk.
Making small talk is just about connecting with the people around you. All different types of people. Maybe people who really don’t care to have in depth conversations. Read more...
