Drop the “Should”
Recently, I carved out time for my work-in-progress. I try to practice what I preach, so, despite a crushing to-do list, I took time for my writing. Usually, when I’m finally at my computer, I can slip into my story.
Not this time. It wasn’t writer’s block. I kept putting words on the page, exactly like I encourage my clients—and you. I was doing it! Well, something, at least. But I wasn’t feeling the love. I knew it didn’t have to be good; that’s my biggest mantra, that the only criteria for a first draft is to get words on the page. But where was the sense of satisfaction I usually get from that?
I finished my hour and with a sigh of good riddance, I moved onto my next pressing task. Still, my writing melancholy stayed with me.
I feared, suddenly, I’d been giving bad advice all these years! Shouldn’t I be pleased with my progress, since I had more words on the page than I did the day before?
That’s when I realized I was living with a “should”. I should feel good, I should feel accomplished. When I gave myself permission to accept that it was just a “bad writing day”, then suddenly I was okay with the “bad writing.” And suddenly I realized it wasn’t bad. It was just me working out ideas on the page. Which then gave me the motivation I needed to continue. In other words, no matter what advice you’re following, drop the “should”.