Everyone and their mother is posting about writing resolutions, but I thought I'd do something a little different. First off, I'm not sure I want to share all my goals and resolutions (mostly because I'm bound to have a #gabifail or two so this way I save myself the humiliation of having to admit it in public.) But more importantly, I think resolutions aren't just about setting goals and striving for them, but about a change in attitude and outlook. Instead I've come up with a 2011 plan.
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2 Manageable Goals:
- First, I'm doing the 100+ reading challenge for 2011 and I'll be posting the books I read here.
- Second, this year I will finish the edits on my WIP.
0 Comparisons: I'll admit it, I can't help but compare myself to the people around me. I try not to--I really do--but it's almost like a reflex and I can't help it. The college bulletin arrives in the mail and I always feel super-inferior because I haven't discovered a cure for cancer, I haven't finished a triathlon in record time, and I haven't sold my start-up company for billions of dollars.
But then I started thinking... even if I knew how to do all these things, it's not like I would actually want to. Don't get me wrong. I'm very glad there are people out there coming up with cures for cancer, performing amazing physical feats like a triathlon or building start-up companies that give other people good jobs. I'm glad these things are happening in the world.
And I'm also glad that I don't have to be the one to do it.
This year, rather than letting these things get me down, I've decided I will not run away from the college bulletin. I will not pathologically avoid Facebook. When I see someone accomplish something great, I'll send happy "Thank You" vibes to that person for doing it because it means I don't have to. And that means more time for writing.
1 New Approach to Creativity: This video is super-inspiring! It's a bit on the long side but it's SOOOOO worth it. It's totally changed my attitude toward the idea of genius and creative success.
1 Quote:
"The core skill of innovators is error recovery, not failure avoidance."
~ Randy Nelson, Pixar
2 comments:
Sorry you've been feeling under the weather! I'm all for coming up with manageable goals. Good luck with yours! :)
I've seen the Elizabeth Gilbert TED speech but I should watch it again - it is really inspirational!
I saw this video last year, and it has freed me (when I remember!) not to let my second book (and its reception) terrify me.
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