MEDITATION I keep talking about it because I truly believe it’s the antidote to the unique stressors of the 21st century–the “always on” lifestyle, the pressure to always do more, the idea that constant striving is the only way to live rather than a way not to live at all. But people hesitate. Maybe they think it won’t “work” for… Read More
Going into the Cave
I’ve been a Monk for some time now… not the religious kind, of course, and not truly isolated from society, steeped in contemplation–but kinda. And I’ve been easing a bit further into the cave over the last six months. I’m not done with that, apparently, because I’m going to take a bit of a social media break–or at least spend… Read More
Introduction to Meditation
This 10 min TED talk is given by the “Headspace Guy”… that gentle voice you hear on the app. I didn’t realize he was actually the co-founder of Headspace (ie not just voice talent hired for the job) and that he was also a monk. This 10 min video is a wonderful introduction to the concept of mindfulness and the… Read More
On getting out of the business… of giving advice, that is.
The indie publishing industry is changing. Of course, it’s always changing, but there’s a seismic shift happening in the indie publishing community right now. Many authors are pulling back from public engagement (with other authors), retreating to smaller groups for more intimate connections. The industry is maturing. The scammers are multiplying like rabbits, and there’s a turn toward more and… Read More
On Seeing Clearly
It’s amazing what you can do when you’re willing to see clearly. (This bears repeating, although my previous rendition of this had a different nuance. “The problem with clearing your mind is you see more clearly.” It’s the “willing” part that’s key to the above–seeing clearly can have an emotional toll, one most of us spending our time avoiding when… Read More
GRIT – Passion and Perseverance for Really Long-Term Goals
It’s hard to overstate how important grit is to success in life – for kids and adults. People sometimes look at me and think (or say out loud!), “Well, sure you’re successful at fill-in-the-blank. You’re smart or have a Ph.D. or work hard or fill-in-other-attribute.” Very seldom is GRIT identified as the supposed magic ingredient for my success (however you… Read More
Altered Traits
Made my doctor’s day this morning. I led with: “I’ve been meditating daily since I saw you in September.” I was a wreck then, limping around with major back pain. Today I was effusing about the change in my mind/body over three months of rigorous healing/rejuvenation, including all kinds of exercise, yoga, meditation, at-home PT, etc. She was like, “Now… Read More
Being is the Foundation for Striving
“A[n] assumption of self-actualization theory is that it very strongly requires a pluralism of individual differences…. Such a true acceptance of individual differences has several key implications that should be stated briefly… it means that we try to make a rose into a good rose, rather than seek to change roses into lilies.” –Abraham Maslow, creator of the famous hierarchy… Read More
Analyzing Your Own Work
I’m analyzing my own work today. Lots of people think you can’t be objective about your own work, especially in the arts. Personally, I think developing an objective, evaluating eye is *exactly* what artists need to do. Not an internal editor that’s climbed up your back like an unwelcome hippo, but the ability to know what you’re aiming for and… Read More
Let’s Talk About Failure…
I do things with a high probability of failure built into them just for the learning experience. So, let’s talk about failure. I fail—all the time, in fact. I’m constantly daring, risking, and there’s a certain amount of failure that comes with that. I don’t like it, mind you. It’s painful. Monetary loss can hurt, personal pride hits are hard,… Read More
On How to Listen
A lady in a lake gave me a sword. I know its power and its secrets. My mind says, “We can unlock everything with this!” And I agree. I can see it, and my ambition is already halfway down the path. My body says, “You’re not strong enough to wield that sword.” I ask my brain, “Are we afraid? Is… Read More
That Time I Finished A Book In A Month Without Stressing Out
In June of this year, I had a crazy deadline I had to meet—a book from start-to-finish in a month, with a hard deadline in the form of an Amazon pre-order (let us not discuss the foolishness of setting up that pre-order, as I am currently repeating said foolishness). Long story short: I made the deadline. And the book was… Read More
The First 200 Words Are The Hardest
Because I’m a nerd at heart. Also because humans are made of chemicals so this intrinsically makes sense to me. Translation for the non-nerds: There’s a thing called “activation energy” in chemistry (also applies to any couch you’re trying to move to find the remote)—it’s a lot harder to get the thing (say a reaction) going than to keep it… Read More
No STRESS, just FOCUS
This is my new motto. Also, read this: CLICK HERE TO GET IT “The signs of mental fatigue, such as a drop in effectiveness and a rise in distractedness and irritability, signify that the mental effort needed to sustain focus has depleted the glucose that feeds neural energy….The antidote to attention fatigue is the same as for the physical kind:… Read More
WRITE THE STORY
Sometimes, especially when I’m struggling with a story, I have to write myself notes to keep myself on-track. For some reason, I write them in ALL CAPS. I’m not sure if I’m yelling at myself, drill-sergeant-style, or if I simply want to differentiate them from the rambling prose and notes on either side of these clarion calls in my manuscript…. Read More