What's Your Plan?
What have you been doing or planning lately to give yourself a break from the rat race? What strides — or even baby steps — have you been making toward a more balanced, restful, peaceful life? Even if they haven’t yet been translated into action, what thought-pattern transformations — or paradigm shifts — have been occurring for you lately that have begun preparing you for action?
Permission to Be Human
Personally, I'm choosing to savor small successes, take smaller bites out of bigger tasks, and not allow all the things that still need doing to steal my joy over the things I've managed to get done. In other words, I'm purposefully focusing more on what I have accomplished than what I haven't. Whenever I do that, I usually realize that I've accomplished far more than I thought I had. But even when I haven't, I give myself permission to be human, to be imperfect, and not to beat myself up over it. If something doesn't get done today, tomorrow's another day. And it's perfectly OK for me (and you) to take some time out to enjoy life, relax, and savor the moment, and not be on task every minute of every day.
Mind Over Matter
It's a mindset, really. It doesn't mean you have any less work to do. It doesn't magically give you fewer responsibilities. It doesn't give you an excuse to ignore a job indefinitely. And it doesn't make you irresponsible. It simply means that in addition to work you're also willing to allow a little time for you. Because you're worth it! And because, when you're stressed out, overworked, and overwhelmed, you can't do your work effectively anyway.
It also means you take time out to focus more on the things that are truly important. In the grand scheme of things, will it really matter whether you do the research for that article right now or put it on your calendar for tomorrow or your To-Do list for later this afternoon so you can take a few moments out to call a friend or relative you haven't spoken to in far too long? Usually not. And what an incredible difference that simple gesture can make in your life and theirs. That's just one example of something far more significant than work. No doubt you can think of many others — if you'll pause long enough to think about it.
When You've No Choice But to Work
I understand you may be wrestling with looming deadlines — Believe me, I know them well! — and in such cases that all-important call may have to wait. But, my question is: Will you determine to make the call once you've finished? Or will you fall right back into the old routine, the pattern of thinking there's simply no time for such luxuries, that they can wait for a time when you aren't so busy? Allowing yourself to stop and smell the roses, connect with the important people in your life, and free your mind from the incessant demands of compulsive "doing" will bring new life, new vigor, and new inspiration to your work. Try it and see.
How Will You Break Free?
I've told you a few of the things I'm doing to alter my perfectionistic, inadequate - unless - continuously - overachieving paradigm and given you a few reasons why it's so important to do that. Now, my question for you is this: What will you do (or what are you already doing) to bring more harmony and balance into your own life and work?
To your freedom!
Jeanne
A Quote That Serves Up Food for Thought for Writers
Today's Quote of the Day (in my left sidebar) says that "Silence is more eloquent than words." (Thomas Carlyle). As writers, words are the tools of our trade. What do you think of Carlyle's statement, and/or what would you say to Carlyle about his assertion if you could?
Words and Silence
Personally, I would say that there are definitely times when silence is more eloquent than words--as in those times when no words are adequate to express an emotion or when nothing we could say would ever be sufficient to respond to another person's sorrow or despair without trivializing it.
I also believe that silence can be a highly effective method for punctuating a statement and providing dramatic contrast, which can not only drive an idea home in a particularly potent manner but also encourage (and allow) a listener to really ponder it.
Of course, the above comments would apply more to verbal exchanges than written ones--though there are also many times when silence in written messages can exert a powerful (though not always unambiguous) influence.
"Silence" in Writing
We all know that not replying to something said by someone in an e-mail, letter, or comment can sometimes cause that person to question why and wonder about the significance of the omission. This type of "silence" can create serious doubts about our message's intent and sometimes even give the recipient a totally erroneous impression of what we meant to convey. This would be a negative application of silence in our written communications, which--while certainly powerful--wouldn't actually qualify as "eloquent."
In the writing arena, I also think that, in many cases, economy of words can have a similar effect to that of auditory silence in conversation. This is true in the sense that it leaves some room for individual thought, opinion formulation, and/or personal application of a concept, rather than bombarding the reader with the author's own perspective and thereby limiting the reader's engagement with the work in question. This would be a positive manifestation of written "silence" which might actually qualify for Carlyle's "eloquent" descriptor.
Another version of this type of "silence"--whether in speech or writing--would be the art of asking questions. This is because the very act of questioning implies that a period of silence will follow, during which the hearer's/reader's input will be welcome--another positive manifestation of written "silence." (Even rhetorical questions invite the hearer/reader to ponder the topic and provide the "space" for him to reach his own conclusions.)
What are your thoughts on words and silence--either from a writing or conversational perspective? You have the floor!
Thanks, in advance, for sharing your thoughts!
Jeanne
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