The Power of Positive Thinking
- By: Jessica Faust | Date: Jul 16 2019
I’m a believer in the idea that the energy we put out there is what comes back to us. Positive energy brings positive experiences, negative energy brings negative experiences.
I don’t believe that sitting in a chair and thinking positively makes good things happen, but I do think that working with a certain mindset helps us to create an outcome toward that mindset. And sitting in a chair and thinking negatively will likely bring negative things simply because you aren’t doing the work.
When I started BookEnds, and later as I grew BookEnds, I believed in what I was doing and in myself. I envisioned an outcome of multiple agents and I believe in them as much as I believe in myself. The more I worked with these positive thoughts, the more things happened. Suddenly I had resumes from Tracy and Rachel and Natascha. And just when I thought I needed to build BookEnds into nonfiction and SFF, I had resumes from Amanda and Naomi.
By opening my mind to what I wanted and creating a clear vision, I was open to the resumes that were coming in. I wasn’t afraid to set up calls and meetings and to make the leap to build a team from five to ten in just two short years.
Flipping the Switch
Writing is a business just as much as BookEnds is and positive thinking matters. It doesn’t mean you won’t have doubts. I had doubts. And fears. And straight-up panic attacks.
I experienced imposter syndrome and wondered when my agents, clients, and publishers would figure out that I didn’t have a clue. And then I took a deep breath, I meditated, I journaled and I reminded myself of my accomplishments and what it took for me to get there in the first place. It wasn’t negative thinking. It was the power of positive and the belief in myself.
Creating Your Outcome
I see authors fall into negative thinking all the time and frankly, while I try to fight it, I can’t change you. Only you can do that. If you decide you’re a small fish. If you decide you’re an “only.” If you decide that your publisher is screwing you and your book is going to tank it likely will. Not because you think this, but because you’ve given up on your book and yourself and whether you see it or not, your thinking will slowly leak into your doing.
Negative thinking creates an environment where you’ll stop putting the effort in. Slowly at first, but eventually you’ll stop believing in yourself the way you did when you started and worked with the drive of a person on a mission to succeed. No matter what.
Positive thinking doesn’t mean you won’t struggle. You will. Life and publishing aren’t without struggles. Positive thinking won’t create instant bestseller status. But it could mean the difference between the author who publishes for a lifetime and the one who throws up their hands and gives up after 20 published books, simply because they couldn’t see the good in what was actually happening.
YES! 😀
Yes to all the above.
I’m essentially positive and in love with my days. But I admit I do enjoy the kvetching posts shared online, . These posts are a reminder that we all struggle, and why be alone with such when company is readily available?
But wallowing and wading in the murky waters can take its toll, so the deal I made with self is to never linger there too long.
Thank you for this. Did not realize this was something I needed to read until I did. LOL
I needed that. Excellent post.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Jessica!! As you say, it’s not always easy to be positive and when I find myself drifting into negative thinking, I use the power of affirmations. I say they over and over to myself until the negativity passes. Cheesy, I know, but it works and that’s what really matters.
I’m naturally a glass half full person, but it can be hard sometimes to stop negative thoughts creeping into your head, but I think you’ve made a good point, Jessica, that “Positive thinking doesn’t mean you won’t struggle.” A good reminder!
Merci beaucoup for the wisdom and the encouragement.