SAHM Writer Blog

Get paid to write MORE by riding the wave

11th November, 2009 - Posted by admin - No Comments

When you get paid to write, (or actually, whatever you do) it’s easy to slip into a mode that’s not supportive of a balanced life. It’s a sense of adrenaline addiction. You get on a roll, in the zone, and you become the eighth wonder of the world: a word machine!

Problem is, it’s not always easy to flip the switch that powers down the word machine. And that’s a real problem.

For me, I noticed this a couple of years ago when I went to the mall.

I am not a fan of the mall. It was fun when I was a teenager, but honestly, not something I enjoy at all now. However, my little girl LOVES to go to the mall. Lunch at Chic Fil A, a ride on the little train, a visit to the dollar store – she loves it all. So, hub and I took her there one Saturday afternoon. I’d been right in the middle of a big project and took time to spend with her – a little break.

Nearly had a panic attack as we stood in the dollar store aisle while we waited, waited, waited, waited (ok, if you’ve ever had a kid, you know how many ‘waited’s I could add in here) for her to pick out a little toy. Sweaty palms, slight nausea, the whole deal.

“What on EARTH???”

The core of that fear: WHAT IF I CAN’T GET BACK INTO A STATE OF PRODUCTIVITY?

It really did feel like if I relaxed, I’d slip into a state of permanent laziness, never to return.

Really felt like a certainty.

But hear this – that little voice saying, “If you slow down, you’re sunk” is a liar.

Just as God made the world to roll through seasons, we’re made the same way. Watch the waves at the beach a while, and you’ll see sometimes the water is close to you – sometimes the water is far away. It’s okay. Nobody’s panicked. The seabirds are cool with it. The sand is perfectly fine. The shells don’t freak out. It’s just natural – and expected – and designed.

In fact, I don’t know much about oceanography, but I’m  guessing something bad would happen if the waves didn’t… wave.

Same thing with you, my friend. : )

It’s okay… it’s GOOD to turn off the computer and step away – just as good as turning it on and creating.

Talking to myself here: You WILL be able to hop back in. Momentum is not a linear thing – it’ll come back, and it’s just a matter of stepping back into it after a period of rest. It’s like taking a break and sharpening the saw – that period of maintenance will allow my saw to cut more easily when I get back to the task at hand.

What are your thoughts?

I’m thinking about creating a product around the “mental game” behind working as a freelancer. But only if that would be valuable to you. Tell me what you think, and what struggles and challenges you’d like to see discussed… if I create it (and it’s been burning on my heart a while, so it’s likely to go forward) – and if you provide this input from your own perspective, your own heart – you’ll get it for free : )