Your Expedition Toward Success – Daily Quote

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We regret to inform you the escalator to success is out of order, please use the stairs. In case you missed the memo, there is no fast track to your dreams. Becoming an overnight sensation takes years of hard work, practice, and obscurity. Many stumble, succumb to despair and quit.

We live in a world of instant gratification, dopamine-fueled, pleasure-seeking addictions to social media likes, tweets, and notifications. What chance do we have of meeting long-term goals which require not days, but weeks, months, or years to reach? The experts tell us that consistency is the key. Doing daily work leads to incremental improvements. No matter how steep the learning curve, creating habits move you toward your target.

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to summit Mount Everest. But he didn’t do it alone. Native Nepalese climber, Tenzing Norgay, reached the summit with Hillary. Before attempting Everest, Hillary climbed eleven other peaks over 20,000 feet tall. Everest was not his first mountain. He also needed support from hundreds of people before he ever set foot at base camp. Imagine his struggles, the fortitude, persistence, and his consistent pursuit of his goal. Practice, planning, and patience are the dues we pay for overnight success.

Do you consistently pursue your goals?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – July 24

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 206 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Half of the year is in our rear-view mirror, and I am drawing a line in the sand. The targets I missed, the stories I didn’t compose, they no longer matter. These last six months are history. Done. I won’t lie, 2020 kicked me in the head, leaving me stunned, unsteady, and incapable of completing anything beyond basic tasks. I bet I am not alone, but don’t count me out yet. They say what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? I am confident I will discover I am more capable than I have ever been. I dug deep, reevaluated my annual goals, and I decided to double down. Can I get a year’s worth of work accomplished by Christmas? We will find out.

My turning point happened when I remembered reading somewhere that anxiety and excitement create similar emotional responses in the body. Anxiety raises your heart rate, your cortisol level increases, and your nerves prepare you for action. Most often, we respond by stress-eating a late-night pint of chocolate ice cream. The only difference between the two emotions is anxiety has a negative connotation, while we view excitement as positive. The answer seemed clear. I needed to reframe the context of my emotions and proceed as if my success lies on the horizon.

All that remains is for me to divide my workload into bite-size pieces, and do the next right thing. I am aligning my creative endeavors to focus on writing, editing, and creating a brighter future.

Try it, and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Becoming a Fear Hacker Keeps You on Course – Daily Quote

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I confront fear every morning. No, I am not an undercover, special agent or a fugitive fleeing from the authorities, I am an ordinary, everyday fear hacker. Back in the caveman days, that sensation in the pit of our stomachs developed to keep us safe. But I haven’t seen any saber-tooth tiger roaming suburbia lately. So instead of pulling the covers over my head, I invite it in for a conversation.

By doing so, I have discovered fear’s virtues. This feeling lets me know I am alive. It is a motivator. It focuses my thoughts and grounds me in the present. Inside of fear lives instinct and intuition, two keys to helping me make quick decisions and get my work done faster. Doing scary things means I am on the right path. Coming to terms with fear has made it my greatest asset and best ally.

How can you become a fear hacker?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – July 23

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 205 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Half of the year is in our rear-view mirror, and I am drawing a line in the sand. The targets I missed, the stories I didn’t compose, they no longer matter. These last six months are history. Done. I won’t lie, 2020 kicked me in the head, leaving me stunned, unsteady, and incapable of completing anything beyond basic tasks. I bet I am not alone, but don’t count me out yet. They say what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? I am confident I will discover I am more capable than I have ever been. I dug deep, reevaluated my annual goals, and I decided to double down. Can I get a year’s worth of work accomplished by Christmas? We will find out.

My turning point happened when I remembered reading somewhere that anxiety and excitement create similar emotional responses in the body. Anxiety raises your heart rate, your cortisol level increases, and your nerves prepare you for action. Most often, we respond by stress-eating a late-night pint of chocolate ice cream. The only difference between the two emotions is anxiety has a negative connotation, while we view excitement as positive. The answer seemed clear. I needed to reframe the context of my emotions and proceed as if my success lies on the horizon.

All that remains is for me to divide my workload into bite-size pieces, and do the next right thing. I am aligning my creative endeavors to focus on writing, editing, and creating a brighter future.

Try it, and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Channeling Your Adrenaline Rush to Create Meaningful Work – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments
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Sometimes we need to stop, to move forward. It’s difficult to do in our results-driven, 24/7/365, what-have-you-done-for-me-lately society. Our current culture makes it even more imperative to pause, reflect, and indulge in thoughtful consideration. Rushing headlong into activities provides an adrenaline rush that confirms our existence. It can also be a potential disaster, which changes our lives in unexpected ways.

I am addicted to the thrill of living. Experiencing the highs and lows lurking around every corner is my fuel. I love incorporating these small moments into my writing. I find they are often pivot points which direct and predict our future. By stopping to consider the possibilities, we grant ourselves the luxury of making conscious judgment calls. We put ourselves in control. We determine our trajectory based on thousands of tiny decisions, minor course corrections that place us on a specific path. This is where the true fun lies.

How will today’s decisions shape your destiny?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – July 22

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 204 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Half of the year is in our rear-view mirror, and I am drawing a line in the sand. The targets I missed, the stories I didn’t compose, they no longer matter. These last six months are history. Done. I won’t lie, 2020 kicked me in the head, leaving me stunned, unsteady, and incapable of completing anything beyond basic tasks. I bet I am not alone, but don’t count me out yet. They say what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? I am confident I will discover I am more capable than I have ever been. I dug deep, reevaluated my annual goals, and I decided to double down. Can I get a year’s worth of work accomplished by Christmas? We will find out.

My turning point happened when I remembered reading somewhere that anxiety and excitement create similar emotional responses in the body. Anxiety raises your heart rate, your cortisol level increases, and your nerves prepare you for action. Most often, we respond by stress-eating a late-night pint of chocolate ice cream. The only difference between the two emotions is anxiety has a negative connotation, while we view excitement as positive. The answer seemed clear. I needed to reframe the context of my emotions and proceed as if my success lies on the horizon.

All that remains is for me to divide my workload into bite-size pieces, and do the next right thing. I am aligning my creative endeavors to focus on writing, editing, and creating a brighter future.

Try it, and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Nurturing Reasoning – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 5 Comments
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The image above is “The School of Athens” (Scuola di Athene) a fresco created by Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino) which is part of the four Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. Raphael’s Rooms are the Sala di Costantino (Hall of Constantine), the Stanza di Eliodoro (Room of Heliodorus), the Stanza della Segnatura (Room of the Signatura) and the Stanza dell’ Incendio del Borgo (The Room of the Fire in the Borgo).

The first room Raphael started was the Stanza della Segnatura, and “The School of Athens” was the third wall completed. Depicting Philosophy, “The School of Athens” is one of Raphael’s masterpiece. Raphael was not specific on the identity of the figures he portrayed and left many insisting he painted the likenesses of some of his contemporaries.  The philosophers (above) include Plato or Leonardo da Vinci, Aristotle or Giuliano da Sangallo in the center. Sprawled on the steps, the figure depicts Diogenes of Sinope or Socrates. While the character leaning against the cube is perhaps Heraclitus or Michelangelo.

I have stood before this fresco several times and contemplated many ideas. I read and research and digested opinions, theories, and speculations. Pratchett is correct, examining how you think gives you a conviction that influences everything you do. I notice the certainty of my thoughts appearing unbidden in my work.

What have you analyzed and how has it affected your writing?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – July 21

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 203 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Half of the year is in our rear-view mirror, and I am drawing a line in the sand. The targets I missed, the stories I didn’t compose, they no longer matter. These last six months are history. Done. I won’t lie, 2020 kicked me in the head, leaving me stunned, unsteady, and incapable of completing anything beyond basic tasks. I bet I am not alone, but don’t count me out yet. They say what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? I am confident I will discover I am more capable than I have ever been. I dug deep, reevaluated my annual goals, and I decided to double down. Can I get a year’s worth of work accomplished by Christmas? We will find out.

My turning point happened when I remembered reading somewhere that anxiety and excitement create similar emotional responses in the body. Anxiety raises your heart rate, your cortisol level increases, and your nerves prepare you for action. Most often, we respond by stress-eating a late-night pint of chocolate ice cream. The only difference between the two emotions is anxiety has a negative connotation, while we view excitement as positive. The answer seemed clear. I needed to reframe the context of my emotions and proceed as if my success lies on the horizon.

All that remains is for me to divide my workload into bite-size pieces, and do the next right thing. I am aligning my creative endeavors to focus on writing, editing, and creating a brighter future.

Try it, and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Your Story is A Piece of Cake – Daily Quote

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments
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A good story is better than life. It allows us access to our hero’s thoughts and motivations. While actual people often hide behind carefully crafted facades. Exciting stories don’t waste time with boring and trivial aspects of our daily routines. If a character takes a shower, you can count on a shocking development ensuing. When the antagonist confronts our beloved protagonist, our hero always has the best responses without bumbling, stutters, or searching for words. And she certainly doesn’t spend the next scene thinking of all the cutting retorts she could have said.

Well-written tales are laser-focused, they revolve around a major theme, and present a satisfying resolution, we seldom experience outside of a novel. The scenery is richer. Men are handsome, women are beautiful, and the plot pushes them along a prescribed path. It betrays the uncertainty we face. A good story resembles our favorite meal, and the crowning glory is a delectable piece of cake for dessert.

Will your story serve cake?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 2020 Daily Writing Challenge – July 20

/ JoHawkTheWriter / 3 Comments

2020 Daily Writing Challenge

Writing is like driving at night in the fog.
You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow

Today is Day 202 of the 2020 Daily Writing Challenge.

Did you write yesterday? Half of the year is in our rear-view mirror, and I am drawing a line in the sand. The targets I missed, the stories I didn’t compose, they no longer matter. These last six months are history. Done. I won’t lie, 2020 kicked me in the head, leaving me stunned, unsteady, and incapable of completing anything beyond basic tasks. I bet I am not alone, but don’t count me out yet. They say what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? I am confident I will discover I am more capable than I have ever been. I dug deep, reevaluated my annual goals, and I decided to double down. Can I get a year’s worth of work accomplished by Christmas? We will find out.

My turning point happened when I remembered reading somewhere that anxiety and excitement create similar emotional responses in the body. Anxiety raises your heart rate, your cortisol level increases, and your nerves prepare you for action. Most often, we respond by stress-eating a late-night pint of chocolate ice cream. The only difference between the two emotions is anxiety has a negative connotation, while we view excitement as positive. The answer seemed clear. I needed to reframe the context of my emotions and proceed as if my success lies on the horizon.

All that remains is for me to divide my workload into bite-size pieces, and do the next right thing. I am aligning my creative endeavors to focus on writing, editing, and creating a brighter future.

Try it, and let us know how you did in the comments below.

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer