Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) & Manifestation for Writers, or Anyone Really

Yeah, so I'm one of those. The annoying positive thinking types. Don't groan like that please; it's not attractive 😉

Now, that doesn't mean it's easy, or that I go around in my fluffy cloud land permanently. Far from it.  I actually struggle with depression. There, I said it!
Where did you think the Darkness & Light Duology came from? 😉 Yes, I strive to balance both.

I do try to see the positives. The flower amongst the weeds is beautiful, delicate yet strong.

Count what you DO have, not what you have not.
Go on, take a minute now, I'll wait...
What blessings do you have?
Did you wake up this morning? Is there a safe roof over your head? Was there hot and cold running water in your taps? And food in your fridge/cupboards?
So many things which we take for granted are seen by others as rich treasures and luxuries.

We live in a capitalist world, consumerism runs riot.
We are bombarded by constant messages of "you need this in your life", "your life is incomplete without this product" etc.
Eurgh! So tiresome 😩
Then there's the images we're shown of digitally enhanced images of unattainable "beauty". Who's to say what's beautiful, anyway? We all are by the way. Our bodies are mini miracles floating around on this little rock hurtling through the vast cosmos.

Life is fleeting. It's a mere blink of an eye in universal terms.
What you do with it is up to you.
Yes, you have choice.

Life is full of frustrations, I get that. I really do.
But if we constantly tell ourselves we can't do something, then there is only ever going to be one result. We get in our way.

There's a problem? What's the solution?
I know this is very simplistic and not always that easy, by the way.
But that cringe-inducing phrase "they're not problems, they're challenges" really does hold some wisdom.
What can you do to resolve it?

example
I had a very Mondayish Monday this week.
I was actually in a really good mood, excited for the week as I got out of bed. But then I turned on my computer.
Uh oh!
I had the 'Merda Touch' - it's like the Midas touch, but brown and smelly 😕
Everything I touched turned to 💩
My gut reaction was to run back to bed and hide under my duvet until Monday went away. This is AN option, for sure.
But, I chose a different path. I poured a larger cup of coffee, had a break, then gritted my teeth and hunkered down.
I systematically went through each problem, looking past the presenting problem and finding what was really behind it. Then tackled those.
I sent emails, I made calls, I social media'd. I did whatever it took to right the wrongs.
And I did. By the end of Monday, I was back on track.

Now, in my ethos, there's lessons in all things. It's really annoying, but I clearly accept I had to go through that stuff, that I have learned something. My resolve was strengthened, at least.
Do I wish it had been different? Hell yeah! But it wasn't. Nothing else to be done about it. On with the next day.

And that sums up life, doesn't it?
There's ups, there's downs. There's good times, which are shown all the better in contrast with the bad.
Buddhists will tell you there is no good, and there is no bad, just experiences.
As much as I admire this, I've not managed to fully detach myself enough to live that way yet.
But I no longer take things so personally.

You know what? The world's not against you.
Sure, it feels that way sometimes. But the world is a busy place. It's not going to waste time victimising individuals.

So, in writing terms...
You may still be struggling to finish your first book. You don't get enough time. You're stuck. You don't know where the story's going.
Write when you can. That's all anyone asks. And if a story is desperately trying to break through, find time, make it. Try to structure your day/week in a way that will give you a window. Does ALL the housework need to be done? Will that bit of dust kill you? Sometimes, just the basics are good enough.

Or maybe you've tried a marketing strategy but floods of readers haven't bought your book?
Oh, I know this one intimately.
But, even if hundreds didn't make the purchase, how many SAW your advert?
Exposure for your book is always good. Your name is getting out there.
Slow and steady wins the race.

I often refer back to my article with advice for new authors
As snarky as it is, there are some important facts in there.
Nobody is ever really an overnight success.
Everybody has to work hard to achieve greatness.
JK Rowling's Harry Potter was turned down 12 times by publishers!
Go to the article for more fun stats like this btw. I know it often makes me feel betterer (my word!).

Stop putting so much pressure on yourself.
C'est la vie, and all that.

What's your goal?
Plan to achieve.

Try an Angel Board.
Put pictures of your goal on there, thanking the angels (or deity of your choosing) for (whatever it is you desire). Keep it in the present tense, as if you already have those things. And keep is SMART
Don't expect miracles to happen for you. Make things happen.
Keep going back to your board regularly. What steps have you taken that bring you closer to that goal?

My wonderful friend who is now with the angels, used to tell me...
"Keep on keeping on"
"Everything is exactly as it should be"
She's right. And yes, she still gets those messages through when I'm very mardy.

Keep dreaming. Dream big.
Dream. Believe. Acheive.
Reach for the moon, and you might just get the stars.
And all that jazz.

If you would like tips on writer's block and/or stress relief head to my blog post here.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Fat Girl - faces future with sass

Date read: 12th June 2018

My rating: 4.5*

Genre I reckon: Self-discovery whilst dieting, humour

Buy link: Amazon





Now, to you, my lovely blog readers, I will make a little confession...
I read this book as I recently discovered this author online. She's a fabulous person, supporting her fellow authors.

When I learned she'd also written about a girl with weight issues I was worried.
Will it look like I copied her, when my WIP gets released?
I'm happy to report it won't.
I'd already started writing when I discovered her, for a start.
And although we cover the same topic, it's from different perspectives. Plus, y'know, US vs UK thought processes and spellings, oh, and culture.

So, my review of Fat Girl...

A very open and honest book about the struggles of Fat Girl.

Bless her, her self-loathing really has climaxed. And she's faced with having to deal with her issues.

But her therapy sessions go deeper and further than she expected.

I really liked Claire; a very flawed MC.

I'm British, so self-deprecation kinda goes with the territory, and I respected that aspect of her character.

It is not an easy read. As Claire punishes herself with her strict starvation and harsh exercise regime I was screaming, and almost throwing my Kindle across the room! "What are you doing?" I asked her. Strangely, the character didn't respond ;-)

Dating fiascos and family troubles run riot in this sombre yet funny novel.

And it is funny. There's a wry humour running throughout.

This is a great journey through self-discovery, taking the scenic road, bumpy hills included.

Any book reviewed on my blog comes with a genuine "recommend to a friend" status.
And this is no exception.

Author Dreamed of the Highlife - but remained Earth bound

I'm going to start by saying I totally nicked this idea from Angeline Trevena, who wrote an awesome article on her blog last week, about her own dream job.

Well, it may come as no surprise to discover yours truly has always had her head in the clouds.
From the age of about six, my dream job was to be an Air Hostess (as it was called then).
It was shortly after this ambition formed that I developed air sickness, on an extremely turbulent flight to New York. I was one of the last to be ill on the plane, but sadly, I was really young and impressionable and the association stuck with me.

Undeterred by such a minor setback, I carried on through childhood and adolescence with this goal in mind.
As I progressed through college, one snobby boyfriend told me I wouldn't ever be an 'air stewardess'. He saw it as menial work. I saw it as glamorous, and a way to travel the world, to set myself free.

I studied Leisure & Tourism at college, obtained an 'A' grade in my German GCSE, and also passed French. I learned the NATO phonetic alphabet, got a Saturday job in a travel agency. You name it, everything I could lay my young hands on to enhance my chances at achieving my dream, I grabbed it.

However, whilst I was studying I met the man who would become husband number one.
As I prepared to apply for a summer job at EuroDisney, he uttered the words, "I don't know if our relationship could survive if we were apart that long."

For years, I had repeated my mantra "Nothing is going to stop me."
Guess what, something did.
Yep, husband number one actually managed, somehow, to stop me even applying for my dream job.
I was being stupid anyway. I got airsick. My planned hypnotherapy to overcome that was expensive, and may not work. And why did I want to leave home when I was setting one up with my man?

It took many years for me to realise that relationship was failing.
And a few more for me to appreciate the effect it was having on my mental health.

Once I set myself free and got myself sorted, I thought it was time I tried.
I had drifted from job-to-job, never finding career satisfaction. Nothing matched up to my airline vision.

So, I applied for a job with British Airways. I even scored an interview.
But oh so much pressure had built up. So much hinged on that day. And the day was gruelling.
I didn't stand much of a chance. I was, by now, too old and too fat.
It was the...worst...interview...ever!
I managed to reach up to the required height easily enough, and navigated my way through the written test. But then came the role play. I hate role play! But that wasn't the worst.

Imagine yourself in a tatty, dim room with two women. One of whom is a complete harridan with NO facial expression whatsoever. None. Not scowling, not smiling. Completely impassive.
Now, said harridan asks you many interview questions.
It's fine, you've attended many interviews before. You've had practice.
Only, when she asks them there seems to be a hidden meaning.
You start to panic.
Suddenly, you think it's really funny to add, "and because I don't suit red," to your response to the question 'Why do you want to work for BA?'.
OMG, I think an actual tumbleweed blew past. You heard of a deathly silence? Yeah, this was one of those.

I waited for what felt like an eternity, but I finally got the rejection email.
It shouldn't have been a surprise, but I was absolutely devastated. And I mean that in its full sense.
A TL shaped puddle was all that was left.
There were wails of pain and anguish. Roars burst from my throat, directed to the skies.
Why? Why after all this time, after all I'd been through, was I still not able to fulfil my destiny?
It was too cruel.
How much misery is one supposed to endure?
This was indeed the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back.

Funny part coming up. Phew!

Now, I'm not particularly religious. But in that moment I made a bargain with God, the angels, whichever good deity wished to listen...
"If I don't win the lottery this weekend I will use the emergency exit. I will end my life."
I deeply meant it, from the bottom of my heart to the top of my soul.
I'd been through hell all my life, and wasn't prepared to go through more.
So, what happened? I won £10!
Not exactly the jackpot I was aiming for, and I could hear my angel chuckling. Smug git!
A deal's a deal, right? I honoured it (obviously).

And you know what?
Being a 'hostie' wasn't part of my plan.
It's a far different job now from what it was when I set my goal.
I wouldn't really want it now.
I can look up at the sky on a stormy day, and thank the Powers that I'm not in a bumpy plane.

Fate had a very different path in mind for me.
And I'm still walking down it.

Sometimes, we can make plans. And those plans don't work out the way we thought they would.
But it's OK.
Everything is exactly as it should be.
Sometimes, you just need to go with the flow.
New adventures are just around the bend.


Phew! That was a bit serious, huh? Thanks for sticking with me.
Maybe you know a bit more about me now.
It felt important to share that story, so I did.

Always in love and light,

TL