The write mindset: getting your head in the right space to write a book
The commitment to write a book is not one to be made lightly. Without it your book may never be written.
On low days, a commitment to completion galvanised by the right mindset will get you through. At least it worked for me.
The problem is, all too often, the right mindset evades us. Consumed by the stories we tell ourselves, and addicted to the feelings associated with those stories, the right mindset doesn’t have a chance. Nor does your book.
Overcoming these limiting beliefs, many of which we’ve carried around for a while, takes work. Actually, it takes every bit of mental and emotional strength if we’re to get beyond them. If we can’t move past them, there’s a good chance your book – the one that’s important to you – will never find its way onto the pages.
Is there a solution? Well, I think so. While I don’t have all the answers, I can share with you the right mindset is key. Or should I say the write mindset?
If you suspect stinkin’ thinkin’ is lurking behind the reluctance to write your book with purpose, take heart. You’re not alone.
Struggling with the right mindset? You’re not RC.
Let me share a story.
Last week I caught up with a couple of former colleagues. After the usual exchange of pleasantries, talk shifted to what we’d been up to since the last catch up.
As I’d recently published a book, I was able to share this good news, and my colleagues, in the spirit of support, acknowledged the effort involved. They were even kind enough to take the copy I presented them with.
Curiously, while all three have been called upon to be writers in their professional work, none had yet made the shift to writing for themselves, although all had contemplated it.
The rate limiting factors varied. Life, time, not knowing what to write about – all standard blocks. However, the one which stuck out for me was the colleague who was down on himself, insisting he had nothing to say or share. A recent situation on a social media platform had silenced him, effectively shutting down the possibility of writing. This is disappointing for him and unfortunate for those of us who could benefit from his meaningful message.
Unfortunately, he’s not Robinson Crusoe (RC).
Become conscious about your thoughts
Experiences like this can take their toll. They can stop writers with a purpose too. Before you know it, you’re soaking in a cesspool of self-doubt and denial.
After all, your mindset is not just what you think; it’s what you don’t know you’re thinking. In plain English, it’s your subconscious programming, or the ‘sponsoring thought’, according to Neale Donald Walsh. That is, the thought behind the thought.
Your original thought might be: I won’t write because of what happened with <insert difficult life situation here>.
That’s makes for a good story, but here’s what likely to be behind that thought:
I’m not good enough.
Nobody will read my book anyway.
I just don’t think I’ll bother.
It’s too hard.
I’ve never done this before.
I’m scared.
Here’s a fact. The reason you’re not writing your book is not because of that difficult life circumstance. No, in fact, the reason you are not writing your book with purpose – the one that will give you life and make a difference to others – is because you have some rather unhelpful stories going on inside your head.
Time to overcome yourself and upgrade your thinking
The bottom line is, it’s the thoughts behind the thoughts that are driving your behaviour every step of the way to not writing your book. Instead of stepping forward even if we’re shaking, we hang onto the unhelpful thinking that’s holding us back. We hang out hats on hooks that keep us stuck.
Stories that aren’t completely true? Check! (As an aside, did you know that half of what we tell ourselves about our past isn’t even true? That’s a lot of stories!)
Excuses? Check!
Total resignation? Got it!
Ready to die with my book inside me? One hundred percent!
I’ve learned that writing your book, like any major personal growth project, is as much about overcoming yourself as it is about completing the task itself.
Anyone who’s ready my posts will know I’ve referenced Dr Joe Dispenza before. I admire his work and love what he’s doing to make a difference. Dr Joe regularly talks about having to overcome yourself to move forward and I agree, not least because it’s been my experience.
To write your book, there’s a big element of overcoming yourself. At times, it can feel as though you’re wrestling with your mind – and that’s because you are. It takes time and diligent practice to overcome limiting thoughts.
How do you get there? By paying attention to your thoughts.
Do what’s necessary to write your book
There are many aspects of writing a book that can feel like a slog. As you move from rubbish first draft to polished manuscript there are plenty of points where you might feel like giving up, but you won’t will you?
No, if you’re serious about writing your book – and we’re assuming you are – you’ll do what’s necessary.
And guess what? Upgrading your thoughts is necessary.
If we think even a fraction of the 70,000 thoughts it’s said we have each day, it would make sense to pay attention to what those thoughts are.
Instead of succumbing to the old stories you’re playing habitually on repeat, shift your mindset to the thoughts you’d like to have about your book, writing ability, and getting your message out there.
Writing down the thoughts you want to have – and don’t want to have – is a powerful exercise. By doing this, you create important connections between your thoughts and what you want to physically show up in your life. As Dr Olivier Becherel told me: “Writing is the bridge between spirit and matter and the key to manifestation.”
With important thoughts written down, you become more aware and can ‘check yourself before you wreck yourself’. Similarly, when unhelpful thoughts come up, you can replace them with more constructive ones. And when you’re not strong enough to do that, you can go to a trusted friend or coach who’ll call you on your BS.
The Wrap Up
For those among us who have rich messages and wisdom to share, we have an important job to do. Creating the right mindset is just part of it. In fact, I’d argue it’s fundamental to conscious communication through your book.
The good news is there’s no need to wait. You can start today by writing down five thoughts you’d love to have about your writing and your book, then repeat them often.
If this sounds simple, you’re right, it is. It’s also a necessary step if you want to finally write a book that is rich in meaning and can make a difference.
Learning to catch your thoughts can be done anywhere – sitting in traffic, waiting in line, taking a walk. Doing this – for even a minute a day – will help change your mindset for life. And it will move you in the direction of getting your book writing project underway.
