Spirit and Writing

To lose our connection with the body is to become spiritually homeless. Without an anchor we float aimlessly, battered by the winds and waves of life.

Dr. Anodea Judith

I like to have plans with my editing sessions. 65k words is hell to edit with no guide on what to look for. I know the quote is talking about about more spiritual connection with the body but it helps to not float aimlessly in novel writing too.

How do you edit your novels?

Writing Fantasy

Writing doesn’t take up enough of my life but I haven’t gone a day without doing it. I used to have writing dreams of going off to a cabin in the woods and writing my days away. I stopped dreaming about them for a while but right now an away writing sesh sounds amazing. I think I’d sleep for the first three days then write my heart out the rest of the time. Throw in some ice cream and take out, ::deep sigh:: -dream come true. Sounds peaceful and adventurous sprinkled with a bit of productivity.

Gentle and Encourging

When you encourage others, you in the process are encouraged because you’re making a commitment and difference in that person’s life. Encouragement really does make a difference.

Zig Ziglar

Words of affirmation are important to me. But let me explain where I learned it from. I learned it from watching mentors around me and by making my own decade worth of mistakes that using encouraging words and gentle guidance lasts significantly longer than using fear based learning. Fear based learning is quick and powerful. You could even see instant results. Unfortunately, those results don’t last and often lead to other long term behavioral issues.

First of all, it’s embedded in our society so it’s not only accepted it’s expected. Let me rephrase that, it was expected. Things are changing though. A lot more leaders are leaning more toward gentle and encouraging teaching methods. It brings me so much joy.

Team

There are times when I want to build brand new things with a team but you know what, teamwork is hard work. People show up with their own desires, passions, and goodness, they also show up with their hurts and learned behaviors. With that being said, as a team, you’re there to work together to support everyone’s uprising. That’s how you win and that’s how you keep winning. There’s no better way to make big positive change in an ever changing world than to support those around you.

Which leads to this, you gotta know how to support those around you. What makes you feel supported isn’t always what makes others feel supported. But it’s always best to start with knowing yourself. What makes you feel supported and what makes you feel unsupported. Once you know those things about yourself share them with the team so they can rise with you. And then when it’s their turn to say “oh wow that really makes me feel supported” or “oh wow I’m not really feeling supported when you do that,” you’ll know this isn’t a personal attack against you. We all have our own unique stories which is why it’s more than ok, it’s imperative, to say these things to our teammates.

Question Time
What are some things that make you feel supported? What are some things make you feel unsupported?

I feel deeply supported when people respect my time. (Like my heart flutters a little bit. lol probably because I was a stay at home mom and I didn’t really get “time” as strangely as that sounds.) Which means I feel unsupported when people don’t respect/value my time.

I feel unsupported when I don’t set/commit to intentional time for myself but boy does my heart feel full of support when I DO set/commit to intentional time for myself!!

Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.

Patrick Lencioni

Challenge and Progress

Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.

George Bernard Shaw

It feels good to finish things that both challenge me and add progress. Forward momentum is part of being alive. The challenging part is learning to enjoy the process. Before I started writing novels, I didn’t understand the importance of taking things slow. Now that I see how long it takes me to write a freakin novel, everything else gets finished much quicker. So it’s not so bad. It’s frustrating that my novel isn’t finished but it’s nice that there’s other things I can finish and feel proud about.

Give Yourself Permission

I did a 15 minute meditation this evening. I also had the house to myself so it was convenient. Today was a weird day but I’m glad I got to have some time to myself to sit and just be. No judging. No trying to change things. It feels good to let things go. After I finished my meditation, I took a moment to enjoy my tea before the family returned home.

I haven’t been meditating as much while trying to manage everything. I’m glad I could give that time to myself. It can feel sometimes that it’s not worth it. That I might as well do something else. But when I get to stop for a moment and give myself permission to just be, it feels better than surfing the web for a moment.

Grow into Something

I learned to knit a scarf today! It’s exciting to see it slowly grow into something other than a ball of yarn. I’m taking my time to master the tension and fixing my mistakes without having to start it all over. It’s fun. I popped on some weird youtube videos and knitted the day away.

Have you tried anything new lately?

Words to Support Words?

I hate quotations. Tell me what you know.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Despite what Mr. Emerson may feel, I appreciate a good quote. There’s a quote for everything. All I have to do is think about how I felt or what actions stood out the most to me, and find one word to describe it. Then I add the word to Quotes about [insert description word here].

What kind of tricks do you use to keep yourself writing?

Jayne Press

What’s it all about

“The mission of Jayne.Press is to inspire growth and respect real life content within New England. Jayne.Press will continue to find ways to increase in community, create a place for individuals to write real life experiences using creative ways to advance inner growth, and provide an outlet from mundane lifestyles. Jayne.press will continue to evolve along with readership.”

Wow these are some big missions. I’m going to tackle all of these but I think I work best unconventionally. Time to revisit and rethink this. Back to the drawing board!!

Abundance Affirmation

I am one with the Power that created me. I am totally open and receptive to the abundant flow of prosperity that the Universe offers. All my needs and desires are met before I even ask. I am Divinely guided and protected, and I make choices that are beneficial for me. I rejoice in other’s successes, knowing there is plenty for us all.

Louise Hay

I read this and had to share it. Sharing is caring. I am a fan of throwing affirmations in my mix of good habits. They bring it all together and seal the deal for me. I used to search and search for affirmations from outside of me. Once I took full responsibility for my desires, everything chilled out. I felt loved, and it came easy. Do you know why, because I learned to talk through my vulnerabilities. I learned to listen to my limited thinking and how to replace it with new affirmations. It changed me.

Have you benefited from affirmations?