.

You poured in your best effort and the results aren’t pretty. You’re covered in bruises, but the end results are less than stellar. You’re tired and frustrated. Your morale is down, and you are questioning everything.

So what do you do when your best isn’t good enough?

Stop beating yourself up. Pain and difficulty are a part of ALL good stories, including yours. You will fail. You aren’t perfect. You’re human. Don’t hold yourself to an unattainable standard. Tearing yourself apart does not help.

Take an intentional break. Sometimes the best choice is to reflect and to reboot. Fear loves to tell you if you step away, you won’t ever go back. You know, like that time you tried getting up at 5 AM for a month or when you went on that weird diet for a week. But your past doesn’t define you or your future success(es).

You are still in charge. Sure your confidence is wavering now, and that is okay. Never forget you are more than your failures, just like you are more than your successes. You have had success before, and you will again. Stepping away does not mean you are quitting.

Inspire yourself so you can attack the work again. Jim Carrey shares in this video how visualization helped him during (many) low points in his life. Maybe visualization won’t work for you, but something will—it’s up to you figure it out.

Find a way to inspire yourself and get back to work.

Do you need to practice more? Absolutely. Get focused, set a goal to make it intentional, and do the work.

Do you need to change your approach? Very possibly. You may need to find a new teacher, mentor, or coach. Whatever do you do, you must be intentional. When you find a trustworthy leader who meshes with your personality, and the results can be amazing.

I have had the honor to coach Chris Morris over the past year, and his growth has been absolutely amazing. When we first met, I basically ghost wrote a guest post for him. Now he has written not one but two books, one of which was PRAISED by a widely respected publishing veteran. If you are serious about growth, find someone who will challenge, encourage, and push you to reach new levels. It doesn’t have to be a coach, but in this distraction-filled world, personal attention and accountability are rare.

Please consider my coaching services to save you time and help you reach your full potential. I’ve had the opportunity to help others from every stage in life from beginning writers to a New York Times bestselling author.

I’m also launching my Write Publish Share course soon to help you write your first book (or finish one of those many ebooks you started and stopped). This course is the ultimate excuse killer for writers as it gives you intentional, simplified steps to take you from the beginning to the end of writing a book. I’ll even pull the self-publishing curtain back to give you the inside scoop.

I truly believe you have the talents and strengths inside of you to create amazing, life-changing art.

Don’t give up. The world needs you to share your story. 

Will you join me on this adventure? Buckle up, it’s going to be an amazing ride.