Today’s post is by author Geary Smith. Geary has been writing for children and young adults for over 35 years. His work has been published in such venues as Highlights for Children, Child Life, McGraw-Hill, ProQuest, Kids Imagination Train, and many other publications. He is the current mayor of Mexia, Texas, and President of Region IX of Texas City Councils. He has a B.S. in Psychology from Morehouse College and M.Ed. from Stephen F. Austin University.
“Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” -Bruce Lee
It was March 23, 2020, when I felt the painful sting of the pandemic stick my soul and spirit. My future plans, trips, conferences, and other social interactions to sharpen my writing skills were all cancelled one after the other.
This pandemic has changed the lives of many people and especially, writers and authors. However, in the midst of the chaos, I learned to adapt and grow as a person and writer. Here are several tips I recommend to help you adapt as a writer during and even after the pandemic
Inward vs. Outward
At the start of the pandemic and the consequent lockdowns, my writing life geared toward outward things. I will attend this meeting and that conference. However, months later, I found myself focusing on my inner strengths and talents. I had to shift my thinking on what I could do in the quiet and sometimes lonely setting of my writing nook.
I began to search for other writers on the internet in similar situations and seek support. As I did, I found myself growing stronger each day and my writing skills improved. While you cannot control the outward situations, you can truly control your inner feelings and thoughts. Sometimes, shifting your attention toward aspects of life that you can control can help restore your sense of self-confidence.
Focus
At the start of the pandemic, I found myself unable to focus. The news offered a myriad of information about the virus’s spread and calculations of sickness and deaths. My mind was in a constant state of wondering and worrying. However, as the days and months wore on, I decided not to focus on the news and pandemic every day, but on my daily routine and habits and continue to write.
I got back into my normal habits of waking up at 4:00 to write, study, and meditate. I began to find my mind was clearer and sharper on what I had to write and meeting my deadlines. I am able to write much more now, and my success rate has grown.
Using your time wisely and focusing will help promote a sense of hope that you and life are progressing. Make space in your schedule for breaks, lunch, and chatting at the water cooler (texting with friends). This may be through long walks, reading, writing, honing old skills, or acquiring new skills.
While the pandemic put some things on hold, continue to focus and take reasonable steps toward your writing goals.
What’s Important in Life
During the pandemic, I found myself thinking on what is important in life and what makes me truly happy. My health, my children’s health and careers, my newborn grandbaby, and my writing were important things to me.
When possible, surround yourself, with uplifting people, activities, and thoughts that foster an optimistic and joyful mindset, even in the face of the pandemic. For many, this can be difficult, and you should not expect to magically change your thoughts and feelings. But the more you see, think, and do that reflects on what’s truly important to you, the more it can influence your mood and outlook.
Finally, if you’re like me, your life has been turned upside down by the COVID-19 outbreak. Work and play are different. Social gatherings ground to a halt. “Social Distancing” and “Must Wear Your Mask” are words and phrases we know and hear daily. Fear and uncertainty are rampant. But I know the human spirit within each of us will grow stronger and survive any pandemic. We all have to believe in our God given talents and skills and continue to move toward a brighter future.
Geary’s Books
Geary’s books include Spiritual Power: Breaking Free from Fleshly Limitations, NLP Power: Spiritual Tao for Change Forever, and That Special Day in June, all of which can be purchased on Nook Press and Barnes and Noble.