And, I break things into smaller pieces. This is something I tried to teach my students to do when I was teaching.

Sorry for your loss.

Paul

I haven’t been big on setting goals and coming up with “resolutions” for a number of years now, because I saw over and over again that they didn’t work. And I saw that the most important thing is for us to succeed – at something. At anything. Because positive emotion results from success, and then the positive emotion opens us up, gives emotional and intellectual energy and clarity.

I often get big laughs during workshops or group sessions when I suggest that people lower their expectations and set tinier goals. If we tell ourselves the truth – that getting something, anything, done is better than setting a high goal that overwhelms you – it’s easier to figure out exactly what it is that we can accomplish. I ask myself, “What is absolutely, unquestionably do-able?”

When I knew that I could return to revising my middle grade novel this week, my first step was writing “write” at the top of every date book page, from 8-10 in the morning. It carved out a sacred space in my mind and in my calendar. I guess that’s always my first step.

Yesterday, all I managed was to make notes on two chapters. The thought of actually writing them just seemed too difficult that day.

The idea that a small step is okay assures me that the progress I’ve been able to eke out is good enough for now.

I have ADD and spend every single day struggling not to be overwhelmed. It’s so easy to just set things aside and work a crossword or something less taxing and more easily focused than a novel revision.

Small goals that give a sense of accomplishment. Brilliant.