On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

A long-time fan of bestselling author Claire Cook, I look forward to reading her monthly newsletter. Here are five tips she shared in the January 2025 newsletter:

Focus on the positive. Even during challenging and complicated and uncertain times, there’s so much beauty and kindness and fun out there. Don’t let the ugly stuff block your view.

Know when to let it go. Can you make a positive impact here? Can you add value? Can you change anything? If not, let it go. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Or even the big stuff. Save your energy for the places where you can make a difference.

Stop trying to fix other people. (It took me forever to learn this one!) Just let them be who they are, instead of trying to turn them into who you’d prefer them to be. It will free up a ton of time and everybody will be so much happier. It doesn’t work anyway—it really is true that you can only change yourself.

Go get it. Figure out who you really are. Focus on the life you really want and then create it. What brings you joy? What makes you feel alive? What makes you laugh? What holds your focus as the hours slip away? Quit making excuses and use that energy to make it happen instead.

Take one step. When you’re struggling and/or procrastinating, just take a single step in the direction you want to go. As the characters in The Wildwater Walking Club series know so well, even big changes happen one step at a time.

BONUS TIP: Just say no to drama. Challenging family dynamics? Toxic work situations? Fake friends who take advantage of your people-pleasing tendencies? Those of us who grew up in chaos can sometimes be attracted to drama like that proverbial moth to a flame. All that drama can feel normal to us. It takes two to tango, so don’t engage in the drama and see how much simpler and calmer your life gets.