Day 60 – Identifying A Roadblock
Today, my Hello, Fears challenge is to refocus my personal roadblocks into opportunities to move forward. This one is particularly tricky today because I’m feeling pretty dang great.
I saw a little raccoon in my front yard this morning.
My employer hosted a mayoral forum, and I got a fist bump from my city’s current mayor, a man I went to university with and greatly respect.
The bakery I frequent had the middle squares (the middle is the best part) of my favorite GF treat in stock.
I am headed out of town later today to attend my very first writer’s retreat that a publisher friend of mine is hosting.
My kiddo sent me a cute photo of when our deaf doggo was a puppy, and I’ve got my health.
I picked up ice cream for my spouse and son to enjoy this weekend while I’m away.
It appears that I can compile a gratitude list today, but can I identify a roadblock?
One has become apparent to me. As I was reviewing that last paragraph, I realized that my old friend, Procrastination, was peeking out from the depths of my psyche where it likes to lay in wait.
I’ve written about procrastination in the past, in relation to my ADHD, but I will focus on how it impacts my book writing today. Brainstorming ideas for helping me move forward may be exactly what I need before I set off on my weekend trip.
For me, seeking solutions to reduce the impact of procrastination is like trying different diet fads hoping I can do one thing for a couple of weeks and then be magically transformed into something I’m genetically (or perhaps financially) incapable of becoming – Linda Hamilton from Terminator 2.
I’ve sought advice, read books, attended workshops, and tried a plethora of other strategies and what I have learned is that the best thing I can do is to reframe my struggles with procrastination in positive ways.
An example: I am aware that I could have less work to do at the end of NaNoWriMo each year if at the beginning of November, I divided the total number of expected words, 50,000, and committed to writing a little each day. However, I know that I won’t do this, and I will end up with a bunch of words to get on the page in the final days before the deadline. Something specific about the second process allures me; the chaos near the deadline makes the project more thrilling. My adrenaline gets pumping, my determination becomes steadfast, and I get to work writing the words.
In the end, procrastination may always be a companion on my writing journey, lurking in the shadows and occasionally taking center stage. But I choose to see procrastination not as an obstacle, but as the dramatic tension that makes my stories all the more exciting. Just like the rush of adrenaline before a deadline, I'm embracing the thrill, and messiness, of the writer's journey. I invite you to do the same in your own pursuits.
Stock image provided by Unsplash.
