In book-writing, as in other activities, the quality and quantity of your output will depend on your state. No, I don’t mean California or New York. I’m referring to your internal state–the vector sum of your emotions and feelings. What comes up for you when you ask yourself, “How am I?” Serene? Frazzled? Happy? Grumpy? Some combination?
Many people experience their emotional state like the weather, believing they have no control over it. If you are such a person, I have good news for you: You can affect your state.
Were you ever in the middle of an angry exchange when the phone rang? Did your anger spill over to the phone call, or did you find you were able to “switch gears” and “get into a different head”? If you were able to set aside your anger and enter into a conversation of a completely different tone, you can understand what I mean–and that it is within your reach.
The first step: Be aware of your state. Ask yourself uncritically, “How am I? What am I feeling?” Accept whatever answer comes up for you as useful information.
Now ask: Is this state serving me at this moment? Is there some other state that is more appropriate to my current activity–completing my outline; writing a blog entry; preparing for a business call? Here are some things you can do to create your own pattern interrupt and choose your new state:
- Get up and do some vigorous exercise. Run until you are exhausted. Do jumping jacks.
- Call a close friend and tell them something wild. Or ask them for the happiest thing that they did in the last couple of days.
- Change the music you’re listening to, or play some if you’re not. Put on something that always makes you smile–something with raw guitars and lots of drums.
- Pick up your favorite book of humor or inspiration and read some things at random. Or go to a humor website you love.
- Put on a hat; this is now your “state-change” hat.
- Do your happy dance!
- Read your favorite uplifting poem aloud.
- Draw a picture that excites you. Use colors.
Brainstorm your own list of pattern-interrupts. Use them! Your writing will benefit.
