Column Post by Lakin Easterling
Frequently I struggle with doing anything on time. I procrastinate, yes, but it’s usually because I’m thinking: thinking of ways to word things, thinking of the best way to accomplish something, thinking of the most effective solution, how to achieve the most desirable outcome, or how to even begin.
A lot of the time, I struggle with how things sound. How my words may come across, how my tone will portray an idea, and it goes on and on and on until I’ve worried myself into a corner and can’t do anything about what I’ve set out to do.
Not the most conducive atmosphere for abundant life.
The area I struggle with most is writing. Whether it’s constructing a column, writing a journal page, typing out a blog post, or texting a note to someone, I frequently freak out and can’t decide what word should go here or how I should start a sentence or if I should add an exclamation {or if that’s too bold! should I bold the word, too? maybe italicize?}, should I indent or end it, start a new thought, what is my original thought even going to be about?!
And then I’m stuck. And I miss a deadline. And I doubt.
{And I use and too much. I know it’s a problem, I’m seeking help, probably in the form of an ampersand tattoo on my wrist.}
I have a lot of lovely people in my life who give me lovely advice on all the crazy things I try to do and accomplish, and what to do about it if I get stuck. The prevailing theme?
Just keep going.
Keep writing. Keep back-spacing. Keeping starting. Keep indenting. Keep your exclamation points!
Just. Keep. Going.
Practice makes perfect, is a very overused and cliché and absolutely true statement. You don’t have to even like what you’re writing, or drawing, or painting, or saying, or building, whatever. Just keep the motion. Move and allow fresh air to filter in with the movement; keep the water flowing instead of becoming stagnant. Create: for you a creation that is made in the image of Elohim, the God of making and forming and shaping and moving and tearing down and building up and constantly progressing the original masterpiece to be further enhanced and bettered and made strong and whole and new.
So what if you write run-on sentences, or use too many punctuation marks? You won’t learn by standing still, by not even trying at all. Keep going…and don’t stop.
Move with me, friends? What area of your life needs to be stirred and shaken and infused with new life?
. . . . . . . . . .
P.S. We’d love to know your thoughts, so please be sure to comment below. Each of our commenters will be entered in a drawing for our current FREE book giveaway, Mothers & Daughters: Mending a Strained Relationship by author Teena Stewart.
Lakin Easterling is a wife, mother, writer, and avid reader. She spends her days chasing her toddler, Belle, and conversing with the elderly who are afflicted by Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia. She loves surprise coffee dates with her husband Luke, texting novels to her best friend, Laura Hyers, and being a college student. She dreams about being brave enough to get a tattoo, and believes in the healing power of a good cup of coffee. Her favorite nail polish is Sail Away by Milani. She blogs at http://threadingsymphonies.wordpress.com.
Read more encouraging stories from brave-hearted women here. Be sure to grab your free copy of inspirational quotes and writing prompts while you’re there. (Look over on the right hand side!)
Love this! My perfectionist nature conflicts with the creative side so often that I’m unable to write. Deadlines, deadlines. Love them, because either way I have to get the story out. But then I obsess about whether I’ve given the topic proper treatment. LOL.