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.

Here’s a thought-provoking reflection from international speaker and bestselling author Joyce Meyer:

There is a time to talk and a time to keep silent. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is say nothing. When we do say something, it is wise to think first and be purposeful in what we say.

If you make a decision that you are going to say as little as possible about your problems and disappointments in life, they won’t dominate your thoughts and your mood. And if you talk as much as possible about your blessings and hopeful expectations, your frame of mind will match them. Your words affect your attitudes and actions.

Be sure each day is filled with words that fuel joy, not anger, depression, bitterness, or fear. Talk yourself into a better mood. Choose to speak something positive in every situation.

Source: Quiet Times with God by Joyce Meyer

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 authors and coaches Marc and Angel Chernoff, I look forward to reading their emails and blog posts. Here’s an excerpt from a recent post:

We all have ongoing opportunities and obligations, but a healthy and productive routine can only be found in the long run by properly managing your yeses. And yes, sometimes you have to say “no” to really good opportunities and obligations. You can’t always be agreeable — that’s how people take advantage of you. And that’s how you end up taking advantage of yourself too. You have to set clear boundaries!

You might have to say no to certain favors, work projects, community associations, volunteer groups… coaching your kid’s sports teams, or some other seemingly worthwhile activity. I know what you’re thinking: it seems unfair to say no when these are very worthwhile things to do — it pains you to say no! But you must, because the alternative is that you’re going to do a half-baked, poor job at each one, be stressed out, feel like you’re stuck in an endless cycle of busyness, and eventually you’ll reach a breaking point.

Truth be told, the main thing that keeps so many of us stuck in a debilitating cycle of overwhelm is the fantasy in our minds that we can be everything to everyone, everywhere at once, and a hero on all fronts. But again, that’s not reality. The reality is you’re not Superman or Wonder Woman — you’re human and you have limits. So you have to let go of that idea of doing everything, pleasing everyone, and being everywhere.

In the end, you’re either going to do a few things well, or everything poorly. That’s the truth.

Note: I highly recommend subscribing to Marc & Angel’s website.

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.

On Fridays, I receive Hope Clark’s newsletter, Funds for Writers. Here’s a thought-provoking essay from a recent email:

In the gym today, my trainer advised that if you want to improve and build muscle (i.e., get strong), you push the last three reps/times such that you think you’ll fail at any moment. In other words, you push to failure. You push, seeking that point when you just can’t.

He said he’s had clients get frustrated when he tells them they left effort out there unused, and then walk out. But they usually walk back in the next day after they’ve had a look-in-the-mirror moment.

Once they learn to lift like that, and once they learn to come back day after day and not just when they can work it in, they are lifting with passion.

Only then is when you see success.

Your brain will try to tell you to take the path of least resistance in most anything. It will tell you to stop before it gets too hard. But you do not improve unless you push past that.

In writing, you write/publish/submit to the point of failure. Writers who opine about the pain of rejection, in my opinion, don’t write with passion. They write for fun. They write to feel good. They do not write with passion.

Passion is doing something beyond the level of “can’t.” Beyond the level of shaking muscles. Beyond the fear of rejection. Beyond the trepidation of having to do something you aren’t sure will work. Beyond the concern of being embarrassed.

Those who excel, who succeed, who achieve something different than the masses, are doing so with passion. Passionate writers write through all the noise, voices, criticism, demands, and obstacles in their path. They write until it hurts.

Sign up to receive Hope Clark’s newsletter here