As the song goes – some days are diamonds, some days are stones. (Well I hope that’s how it goes. I’ve only just convinced my daughter that the words to another song are ‘Deep Water’ rather than the ‘Pete Waller’ she was singing.)
Yesterday was a stones kinda day.
But today is better. Why? I think it’s all about your mental approach and having a system to deal with these things and get yourself back on course.
For me, one of the first things I try to do is get my mind thinking in a way that’s helpful to me. I picked up one of the many, many inspirational books on my shelf and looked for help. The first page asked, ‘Where will you be five years from today?’ (It happens to be the name of the book too.) It was all I needed. That one line gave me my problem and my cure.
Problem – I’m not exactly where I want to be.
Cure – Make a plan to get there.
The other thing was that it reminded me that I had made a plan, I had been sticking to it, and I am slowly getting there.
Where I want to be is published in fiction. Where I am, is writing stuff for other people to make money. (A good substitute, because I do like eating and paying my bills.)
My plan is to give myself two years to continue this way, keep finishing all my half-done projects and put them out there. I’m not starting another new thing until they’re done. Everything new gets jotted down and stuck into the ideas file.
It didn’t turn my day into a diamond, but it made it possible for me to keep on going rather than getting stuck in a rut.
So next time your day is stones, inspire yourself. You know what to do. You’ve done it before. You will do it again.
And finally, here’s another piece of inspiration from the 5 book – Give yourself permission to aim high in work and life. Take time to dream and plan.
the art of moi 