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26 Ways To Be A Writer NOW!
V Is For Vigilant
Vigilant - keenly watchful to detect danger; wary. Ever awake and alert, sleeplessly watchful.
You are the security guard who protects the attitudes, beliefs, and desires that are born, grow, and mature in your subconscious mind, from the negative forces that prey on the unobservant.
What can you learn from our feathered and furry friends in nature?
I watched Lily, a streetwise tabby cat, strut casually across my front yard as if she owned the block. Suddenly, she was under attack by a mockingbird husband and wife. These brave parents were not deterred by size, claws, or teeth. They dove at the formidable feline predator's head, then landed and charged forth on foot squawking their disapproval and demanding Lily detour from the direction of their nesting ground. She offered a few sidelong glances at the chattering pair, stopped, stared at them for a few seconds and apparently decided a counter attack was not worth her time. Choosing instead in her true alley cat style, to further antagonize the stressed out mockingbird by rolling in the grass and sunning herself in the yard at the bottom of the tree where their babies were resting peacefully. This courageous show plays several times a day, featuring these feathered warriors that stand Vigilant against anything that threatens their young, be it two-legged, winged, or four-pawed. It's a full time plus job with little time for rest.
So I started thinking, imagine you are the mockingbird, the nest is your life, the babies are your infant writing dreams that need time to grow and mature. And the cat represents the negative people, attitudes, and sabotaging self-talk that devours your authorial aspirations before they manifest. Are you willing to tackle the larger than life challenges head on and do whatever it takes to defeat them? Birds only have the fight to survive instincts they are born with and some friendly neighbors who try and protect them from the fat and happy fur balls that are fed plenty of kitty chow at home and just kill for sport. You have more tactics and the ability to prepare ahead of time.
The Power Of Learning To Be Vigilant Against Negativity
V - Visualize the type of people you need to surround yourself with in order to perfect your craft. What attitudes, beliefs, and values must the members of your tribe possess? Not that you want mirror images of your personality, just fellow scribes, striving for similar goals.
I - Identify individuals that are a good fit and spend the majority of your time with them. Limit your time with anyone who brings you down, doesn't support you, criticizes and judges you, or is unwilling to communicate and listen. This may describe some family members or friends and I'm not suggesting you eliate them. But you need to build a strong support system around you of individuals fighting for the same cause so that you have that network to relay on. When times get tough, these are the people who will understand and help you through it.
G - Give negative people a chance. Sometimes we are unaware of what is going on in a person's life. Perhaps the behavior you're witnessing at the moment is temporary due to challenging circumstances. try to talk, listen, and understand their point of view.
I - Inspire people to change negative behaviors and opinions by suggesting reading material you've found helpful. Show them how other writers have succeeded and the multitude of opportunities that exist today. Here's a god one: http://www.selfhelpstreet.com Sign up for their newsletter and gain access to a variety of experts in different fields!
L - Listen to observations of your own behavior. Just because a person is not meeting our expectations doesn't always mean they're wrong. Perhaps you need to study where your behaviors originate and see if a compromise can be reached. I'll admit creative right-brainers, as writers tend to be, are not the easiest folks to understand.
A - Ask for what you want. Ask the people in your life what they want. Share your goals and ambitions. Communicate. Your infectious enthusiasm could be the jumpstart jolt needed to win them over to the supportive side of the fence.
N - Notice if they're willing to extend the effort to change. Some believe the route of high school to college to corporate job is the only way to succeed. You may never convince them that writing could be a rewarding and profitable career. If being around people like this is harmful in any way to your future then you must decide how much time to invest in the relationship.
T - Tell "the streetwise tabby" NO! Stand strong and stay true to your dreams. It's your life and you have the choice to excel and enjoy or regret and resent. Realize when you've done all you can and it's time to let go and move on. Try a trial run by removing a situation or person from your life for a month and see how it feels. Does it have a positive or negative effect on you?
The next time you see negativity stalking towards your nest, fight like the fierce little mockingbird soldiers and remain Vigilant against the daily onslaught of predators that can pounce when you least expect it!
1. What parallels have you observed from Mother Nature's creatures?
2. Write at the top of a blank sheet of paper. What do I need to do to stay Vigilant and protect my dreams?
3. Sit in the backyard or spend some time at the park and watch the wildlife interact with each other and their environment. Take deep breaths and enjoy the peacefulness. Write down any thoughts or ideas that come to you.
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