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Positivity for Writers
By Carol Grannick on February 17, 2010
Hey, I’ve been getting some private email questions about “positivity” and one of the crucial tools for changing negative thinking to positive – learning to dispute negative thinking. “Do you think people should be happy all the time?” is the gist of many of the questions (which I have permission to post).
Here’s a little quiz [...]
Posted in Positivity for Writers | Tagged positivity
By Carol Grannick on January 29, 2010
I noticed yesterday morning, recycling and garbage day in my neighborhood, that we had about one-third of our usual toss.
And because the idea of a post on The Irrepressible Writer came to mind, I trusted that what I’d noticed about our effort to decrease our garbage must have something to do with positivity and the [...]
Posted in Emotional Life Of Writers, Positivity for Writers, Resilient Writers | Tagged positivity, resilience
By Carol Grannick on January 26, 2010
What if when you have negative thoughts you aren’t just depressed or depleted…What if you’re wrong?
Posted in Emotional Life Of Writers, Learned Optimism, Positivity for Writers | Tagged Edward de Bono, negative thoughts, writers
By Carol Grannick on January 19, 2010
The ability to “dispute” your negative thoughts is a cornerstone of changing pessimistic thinking to optimistic. For me, and for many clients, learning to dispute is an invaluable skill.
But it is not the only technique for creating positive emotions. For those of us who “flow” more naturally toward negativity, a variety of tools are helpful [...]
Posted in Learned Optimism, Positivity for Writers | Tagged Learned Optimism, positivity
By Carol Grannick on January 7, 2010
I have a choice to think one way or the other. The positive choice energizes me to blog, write and enjoy the day inside.
That choice – and learning how to make and benefit from that choice in an ongoing way – is what The Irrepressible Writer is all about.
Posted in Emotional Life Of Writers, Learned Optimism, Positivity for Writers, Resilient Writers, The Writing Life, Uncategorized | Tagged Learned Optimism, positive emotions, positivity, writers' obstacles, writers' resilience
By Carol Grannick on January 5, 2010
THREE TIPS for your 2010 journey to becoming and staying an irrepressible writer:
1.Find comfort with your feelings.
Feelings are transient, but significant: what you think affects how you feel. Welcome feelings without judgment, but work to create more positive emotions by challenging irrational or prolonged negative emotions. If you [...]
Posted in Positivity for Writers, Resilient Writers, Uncategorized | Tagged Barbara Fredrickson, disputing thoughts, positivity, positivity ratio, Writing Tips
By Carol Grannick on December 30, 2009
As much as I love and devour fiction, particularly picture books, middle grade and young adult novels, the book that impacted my life and writing this year more than any other was Dr. Barbara Fredrickson’s POSITIVITY (Crown, 2009).
I needed a post-it note on almost every page to keep track of all the salient points!
The most [...]
Posted in Positivity for Writers, Resilient Writers | Tagged Barbara Fredrickson, positive emotions, Positive Psychology
By Carol Grannick on December 28, 2009
In the spirit of end-of-year reminiscence and thoughtful self-assessment, I realized yesterday that my closet held beautiful, exotic clothing that I’ve collected over several decades. Clothing that is lovely to look at, but clothing I don’t wear, or am uncomfortable in when I do.
The clothes don’t belong in my closet. Not because I don’t [...]
Posted in Emotional Life Of Writers, Learned Optimism, Positivity for Writers, The Writing Life | Tagged Learned Optimism, Martin Seligman, positive attitude, writer's block
By Carol Grannick on December 10, 2009
You want to get to work. You think about getting to work. You’ve got one, two, seven projects on your mind.
But nothing happens. You walk past your writing space and imagine yourself writing. Your heart glides over and sits at the desk. But your body stays away.
Why can’t you work?
Maybe you get agitated. Then you get annoyed that [...]
Posted in Emotional Life Of Writers, Learned Optimism, Positivity for Writers, Resilient Writers, The Writing Life | Tagged Barbara Fredrickson, writer's block
By Carol Grannick on December 7, 2009
I couldn’t wait to get back to novel writing this morning after a prolonged, chosen and necessary time away due to a family death. My middle grade novel in verse called to me, and I answered.
I’m going to get a bunch of writing done this morning!
But by the time I put my current partial draft in front [...]
Posted in Emotional Life Of Writers, Learned Optimism, Positivity for Writers, Resilient Writers | Tagged Caravaggio's Medusa, creativity, writer's block