Have you ever looked at a new assignment or project or even a messy house and thought, “I can’t do that! There’s too much to do! I have no idea where to begin!”? Me too. In fact, I admit I’ve had too many thoughts like this recently. So what do we do when we face something daunting?
True Story Ahead
Dirty Dishes
What stared at me through the doorway as I entered my kitchen this morning was an unwelcomed site. Dirty dishes. Everywhere. Ugh.
All I wanted was a cup of coffee to help clear my morning fog so that I could get ready to go to my writer’s studio.
But first, it appeared I had a new assignment: cleaning up last night’s mess. Where to begin?
I looked around like Snoopy Flying Ace trying to plan my attack. I had to start somewhere, so I drank two big gulps of hot coffee, put on my apron, and picked up a bowl filled with gunk.
Writing a Book
Writing a book is more complicated than I ever thought it would be.
I’ve learned passion and talent alone don’t accomplish a written book.
I’ve been daunted by the heap of elements involved in writing and that doesn’t even include publishing a book.
A couple of weeks ago, I had a personal conversation with the Chief of HR where I work. She asked about my writing. I spoke the truth as I know it. “It’s daunting. All of it. All the technology I have to learn and all the logistics are just overwhelming. I never realized how difficult it would be.”
She noticed my dismayed attitude. Then she said, “Look how far you’ve come in just one year.”
She doesn’t know this, but because she brought contextual evidence of my own perseverance over the last year, I was encouraged.
I’ve been thinking about all the things I’ve done in the last year to pursue my calling of writing and my dream of becoming a published author. Last year, I knew I had to start somewhere. So, I did.
- I became a member of Jerry Jenkins Writer’s Guild.
- I started renting a writer’s studio.
- I started a blog. I had no idea how to do that. I began learning from others who do.
- I started learning much more in-depth technical logistics of both writing and blogging.
- I began reading books and blogs of other writers about writing books and blogs.
- I began learning how to create designs.
- I published my first blog post last September.
- To date, I’ve published 83 blog posts.
- Last month I started my own public Facebook page as a writer.
- I started an Instagram account too.
- I started learning many things writers need to know and need to practice.
- I began learning how to write a book proposal. Daunting? Yes indeed!
I had to start somewhere.
So, today I wrote my title page for my book proposal. I know I’ll edit the subtitle a few times, but the point is I started.
Diligence Leads to Profit
Proverbs 21:5 says, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit.”
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on this writing journey is I had to start somewhere or my dream of being a writer and one day a published author would never happen. Today as I look back over the last year, I’m amazed at what I’ve accomplished. I’d say I’ve gained a lot. I am a writer. 🙂 Who knows maybe one day I’ll also be a published author.
If we look at how big the task ahead of us is, we can become dismayed. We may even decide it’s not worth it. But if we look at our daunting task staring at us through the doorway of our life, like I did my kitchen this morning, and just start somewhere, I know we’ll eventually see we’ve accomplished something productive.
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