.jpg) |
| The first Wednesday of the month is time for Insecure Writers hos Support Group, hosted by Alex Cavanaugh and his excellent team. Click here for a list of all the participants and to join in. |
What better way to deal with insecurities than to gently wrap them up in gratitude? I have been keeping a "1000 gifts lists" on my personal blog for nearly four years now, and I just reached 800 things to be grateful for on my list. I've also noticed how in those four years my perspective on life has really changed.
I'm still insecure and worried about a lot of things. But purposefully seeking out things to be grateful for has provided a mysterious and wonderful strength to face the hard things in life.
 |
| hosted by Sheri Larsen |
Insecurity: I worry that being an introverted writer means I can't connect to most people
Gratitude: I'm thankful for being introverted. I may not be the life of the party, but I know my friends and family value me for being a good listener, for being empathetic and sensitive to what others are going through
Insecurity: I worry that the time I spend writing could be better spent elsewhere
Gratitude: I'm thankful for the joy writing brings me. The joy of a new idea, and the joy of revisiting old writing and seeing new potential there.
Insecurity: I worry there will be so many rejections they will crush my lifelong dream.
Gratitude: I'm grateful for the rejections that also contain a note about the things they liked in my writing, or a hint about what didn't work that I can learn from.
Insecurity: I'm not consistent enough. I don't write everyday. I'm too on-again, off-again.
Gratitude: I'm thankful I always come back to writing, and that I can balance my life with other important things.
Right now this week I'm grateful for a critique partner who read the latest version of my manuscript Star Tripped and said "This is ready to submit!" and other complimentary things. I love how she described my characters just the way I wanted them to be.
I'm also grateful for another, unexpected compliment from an acquaintance that I have a "gift for teaching kids" - as a homeschooling mom and a Sunday School teacher, that compliment was a great gift and encouragement.
I'm grateful my daughter's broken arm is healing nicely and I'm grateful that even though the car I wrecked last week isn't fixed yet, no one was hurt in the accident and meanwhile I have another vehicle to drive.
What are you grateful for this week?
Posts
The way you turn an insecurity into something to be grateful for is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing those thoughts; I needed that concept today.
ReplyDeleteSo glad this was a help to you!
DeleteI like this idea! Makes you rethink things for a better perspective. Glad your daughter is on the mend.
ReplyDeleteI am grateful for the writing community - it's a wonderful support network. I'm also grateful for friends who stop by and comment when I visit others' blogs (like Nutschell's Wednesday feature). Thank you! :) Wishing you all the best with your homeschooling!
Yes,I love the writing community too. I've been involved 4 years now and am amazed by the kindness and positive outlook of everyone.
DeleteI feel like our insecurities and corresponding thoughts on gratitude coincide a whole bunch, Margo. I'm so glad that you have a "ready-to-submit" version of you manuscript~ it's such a great feeling to get that thumbs-up from critique partners! I'm grateful to be a stay-at-home mom this week. Love my girls and know that they'll grow up all too fast.
ReplyDeleteMy babies are already 7 years old! it all happened so fast - that's another reason why I keep a gifts list, to try to capture precious moments with them as they change so fast!
DeleteMargo, you are one of my blogging/writing heroes. I genuinely admire and look up to you. It's wonderful that you are able to face your insecurities and find strength there. Maybe someday I will be there, too!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, thank you!!!
DeleteIt's really all about how you look at things. Feeling bad can just as easily be flipped around into feeling good, as you wonderfully demonstrated.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
It really is amazing how a simple flip can make a huge difference.
DeleteMargo, this is beyond brilliant. I love how you combated the insecurity with gratitude. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteYour post, likewise!
DeleteLove it!! Thank you so much for your inspiration!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great IWSG post! Perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's all about perspective.
IWSG #268 (until Alex culls the list again or I goof and get myself deleted. :P)
I love the way you paired your insecurities with your gratitude. It really paints a better picture of reality. There are things about myself that I wouldn't trade, but they make me insecure sometime.
ReplyDeleteThat's so true, some of the essential things about myself I wouldn't change but they still make me insecure... we are such paradoxical creatures aren't we?
DeleteCan so relate to feeling like an introvert. And thanks for turning it into something positive.
ReplyDeleteIntroverts unite! (separately!) (grin)
DeleteAlways good can be found if you look indeed. Nothing wrong with being introverted either
ReplyDeleteI just wish I could *temporarily* be an extrovert sometimes (grin)
DeleteWhat a great way to look at things. So much of how we view the world comes down to how we CHOOSE to view it.
ReplyDeleteSo true. And it's easy to forget we do have a choice! - we don't have to accept the default negative.
DeleteI'm grateful I still have a job. If I had to depend on writing for an income, my family would starve.
ReplyDeleteI share many of your insecurities, especially the one about being an introvert. We'll see what happens when I finally release a book.
Loved the "Introvert" picture.
I love how you combined gratitude with insecurity in this wonderful post! I found many things I could relate to as I was reading along, especially being an introvert. It's great how you turned negatives into positives instead! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of putting a positive spin on our insecurities by finding the silver lining. I will have to try this with my own!
ReplyDeleteHappy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Love your post Margo! I'm grateful for a lot of things too. At the moment I'm grateful a few family members are getting not only good healthcare but kindness from all the medical professionals they meet.
ReplyDelete