By Mary Caelsto
I’m giving a class this weekend about how your muse acts as a guardian and how you can tap into its power. One of the themes that keeps coming up is when I offer tip number one, which is get rid of guilt, there’s a lot of issues surrounding that action. Writers often fill their lives, and careers, with “should haves” and “need to”s, and none of those excuses do anything to get rid of guilt.
For me, guilt is the biggest stealer of inspiration and flow. When I am working on a story, if I’m feeling guilty because I’m not writing enough words, or maybe I’m spending too much time on one project at the expense of another, when guilt starts to creep into my mindset, the words stop. Complete bottle neck like a traffic jam on an LA freeway. The words sit there, unmoving, unflowing, and nothing I do can make them start to move again.
However it is possible to get rid of guilt. One of the biggest steps anyone, writers or not, can take to getting rid of the guilt in his or her life is to offer unconditional love and acceptance to the self. Be okay with where you are at now. Maybe you only wrote 250 words on a project instead of 1000, as I did last night. Breathe. Know that you got something written, which is forward progress in and of itself, and sit with that. You made forward progress. You wrote on your book.
Sit with your worry that you are taking time away from other things. Be with it. Accept it and know that it is a part of you. Then, work to know that you are doing the best that you can in all areas. It is not wrong of you to take half an hour of your day, just for you, so you can write. Your guardian muse can help lead you to this place where it is okay to take time out to write, where it is okay to pursue your passion and your dreams.
It takes time to get rid of guilt. Knowing that you are not doing anything wrong in pursuing your passion and dreams, and that you are doing the best that you can are good ways to make progress. Be present each and every day. Do what you need to do for your career and for yourself. Learn to rely on your guardian muse to give you the support and strength you may need on a daily basis.
Then, go write.
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If you’re interested in learning more about activating and finding your Guardian Muse visit my website at http://www.musecharmer.com, where I offer a free ebook on how to use your Guardian Muse to boost your career. It’s also the last week of Muse Camp. Register for free at http://www.musecamp.com
For some people writing is a hobby. Others are trying to discover ways to make their writings a part of their businesses. One arena where this is particularly true is as a coach, a consultant, a speaker, a trainer or a therapist. These are the people who write how-to and personal growth books. I mentor them through the process. A lot of how-to and strategy is involved, but a lot of motivation and confidence building, too.
Because these books are a smart business move – my clients often feel guilty when they DON’T make time for writing. Why? They know once the book is finished and out there for sale, it will position them as an authority and help increase their stature and expertise in their field.
I have a handful of ways to motivate my clients to get writing. One of them, walk inside your favorite bookseller. Scan all the books – thousands and thousands of volumes. Then say, “You know, it’s not humanly possible that EVERY ONE of these authors is smarter or a better writer than I am. Just not possible.” Then start writing again.