I seemed to have been blocked around Gail McMeekin‘s Secret #9 Transcending Rejections and Roadblocks since I waited two weeks to get to it! Haha! I am my own roadblock when I get caught up in my own doubts and fears. I can forget that I need to take steps to move out of the dark forest of doubt and into the flow of the creative process. Not only is it a vulnerable act to creatively express ourselves, to expose our emotions and personal thoughts, but on top of that, I can be quite sensitive to criticism or not being understood.
AND, I have so much valuable evidence that inevitably good things happen when I put myself out there. I learn something, or I meet new people or I somehow make a positive difference, etc. So, I continue to pick myself up and put one foot in front of the other.
Sometimes when something doesn’t go the way I had hoped, I’ll get thrown off track for awhile. For example, about four years ago, I participated in a retreat that threw me for a loop. I hadn’t shown up the way I had wanted to and I was really down on myself. It actually took about a year for me to fully recover my confidence. Despite the delay, the lightbulb moment was powerful when I realized that I had moved past that experience. I had learned what I needed to by continuing to work my edge and I had become stronger in the process.
As I work on my first book proposal, I will keep in mind the journeys of the creative women highlighted in this chapter who persevered through all sorts of challenges. I love the suggestion of tapping into your warrior energy to move through adversity. Above is a detail shot of a money collage I did last year. I will call on this warrior woman’s fierceness for sure! (And I’ll take her killer abs, too!).
How do you overcome rejections and roadblocks?
Hi Jenn. Your warrior woman collage is inspiring. It reminds me to tap into my Sapphire warrior woman who also loves red! Your words below echoed in my heart:
“Not only is it a vulnerable act to creatively express ourselves, to expose our emotions and personal thoughts, but on top of that, I can be quite sensitive to criticism or not being understood.”
I have been feeling like this all weekend. Your story about the retreat and getting passed what you felt were inspirational. Thanks.
I finally realized after walking home in the rain with a salty oat cookie from Teaism that I had to let go and surrender… and allow the universe to hold me up. That was the place I needed to get to in my own roadblock with myself.
Peace, A
i try and tell myself that every rejection brings me closer to getting published, and remember all the stories i’ve heard and read about authors whose books were rejected many times before they finally got published. i’m a writer of fantasy novels, which means a lot of effort goes into my writing. it can be discouraging at about the 30,000 word point, so i tell myself it’s all part of learning my craft, doing the time to improve my writing. it’ll make me a stronger writer in the long run.