Setting Affirmations

Probably one of the most challenging parts of writing and self-publishing is believing that you can.

But trust me, if I can, you can.

Let me explain.

In a large corporation, there are politics and constant friction. For that reason, I have kept my head down, worked hard, and tried to stay off the radar. I have even gone so far as to choose positions that required as little public speaking as possible. I've always been a good employee, but I wasn't growing.

Dan and I have three children. Over the years, I never wanted work to keep me from picking them up if they weren't feeling well or going on a field trip with their class now and again. I was also concerned with being overly involved in my job and not being present with my family at home.

But, there came a day where I needed to do more. The kids had grown to the point where they were more self-sufficient and independent, and I was ready. I wanted To. Do. More.

That more came in the form of taking my revised manuscript from my computer to the bookshelves. But, to do that, I needed to believe that I could. I needed to constantly remind myself that I was capable and it would turn out okay.

My worries:

- Is my writing good enough?

- Will people make fun of me when they hear I am writing a book?

- Will they roll their eyes at all my Instagram and Facebook posts?

- Will I make any sales?

- What if I get terrible reviews?

And these are only some of them.

When I started sharing my writing journey on social media, I was in a constant state of 'freaking out' for about four months.

How did I make it through?

I did it by setting affirmations and constantly repeating them as the negative thoughts came into my head.

My affirmations:

- I will keep working on my book until I am happy with it.

- People think it is interesting that I am writing a book.

- Be me so my posts will be authentic; if people like me, they will like my posts.

- It is my responsibility to let people know my book is available for sale.

- Reviews don't matter as long as I am proud of what I have done.

Take a few minutes to write down your worries and what you will tell yourself to get through these early, sometimes uncomfortable days.

You can do it!