Writing a Book (Part 6): Setting new intentions… with the help of some spine-tingly good quotes

I have finished the edits! At first, it was like pulling teeth. I spent weeks working round the clock on the manuscript and, after a two week break, my brain was in no mood to play. But I gritted my teeth and before I knew it, the edits were done.

Luckily, there were no major re-writes. The editor said he was “genuinely blown away” by the book. (I think I downplayed the feedback in my last post. I’m not very good at blowing my own trumpet. Anyway, it’s all good!)

So what next?

Well, the manuscript now goes to my nutritionist friend Charlotte who will check it for any errors. Then it goes to be typeset. In the meantime, I am left pondering my next move.

For the first time in my life, setting intentions has worked for me. This is what I mean:

INTENTION 1:

In 2013, after years of procrastination, fear and doubt, I set the intention of living by the coast.

Six months later, I moved to the most amazing part of the world – a gorgeous old fishing village on the edge of Chichester Harbour.

INTENTION 2:

Next, I set the intention of working for a publishing company.

After stalking the poor director of a local publishers for several months (think emails, CV, phone calls, meetings), he offered me some temp work.

INTENTION 3:

I started working at the publishing company – ad-hoc days here and there. So I set my next intention – to work there 3 days a week and write a book.

Three or four months later, I have worked my way up from basic admin tasks to writing content for books on health and wellbeing. I am working 3 days a week. The commissioning editor has a chat and asks if I would be interested in writing a book on the dangers of sugar in our diets.

I write my first book.

…………………………..

Interestingly, all three intentions felt very different to ones I’ve set in the past. For one thing, I achieved them in a series of small steps (as opposed to my previous stress-inducing, all-or-nothing approach). I also made a definite decision deep inside of me. And because the core of me knew I meant business, I backed these decisions up with some serious action. E.g. in preparation for moving to the sea, I cancelled gym memberships etc, even though I hadn’t actually found anywhere to live. I figured, if I acted as if I was heading to the coast, the universe would catch up sooner or later. And it did.

Interestingly, every one of these intentions resulted in something I truly LOVE. I love living here. I love working at the publishing company. And I loved writing my first book.

Loving things has NOT been a big theme in my life in the past.

Maybe when you finally set the right intentions (the ones that your heart and soul knows are right for you), things start slotting into place?

Now I’m pondering some new intentions:

1) Write my next book
2) Meet my soul mate (he’s out there; we just haven’t met yet)
3) Become a full time author

I have no problem with goal 1 – I’ve already started making notes for my next book. But goals 2 and 3… I have absolutely NO IDEA how these miracles will occur!

I’m not downhearted though. Yesterday I went back to working at the publishing company (temp work has its uses). I spent the day researching inspirational quotes for one of their upcoming titles. By the end of the day, after reading hundreds of quotes, I was seriously fired up. Here are some of my favourites….

The best way to predict the future is to create it.
Abraham Lincoln

Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.
Kyle Chandler

When you’re true to who you are, amazing things happen.
Deborah Norville

Believe with all of your heart that you will do what you were made to do.
Orison Swett Marden

Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.
Jackson Browne

Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.

Lucille Ball

One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as as adventure.
William Feather

When life looks like it’s falling apart, it may just be falling in place.
Beverley Solomon

The roughest road often leads to the top.
Christina Aguilera

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.
Dalai Lama

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don’t plan on harvesting Golden Delicious.
Bill Meyer

You’re the blacksmith of your own happiness.
Swedish proverb

Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.
Walt Whitman

And finally, my favourite favourite…

What to do with your one life? The same thing you would do if you had two lives, and this were the second.
Robert Brault