Leaping

I don't know about any of you, but in my opinion, leaping is nothing short of terrifying.  I mean seriously, when was the last time you took a chance (a scary one) or knew someone who did?

Leaping isn't for wimps, but I truly believe most of us are just going through life playing it safe, and not getting anywhere.  Which then begs the question...

Are you happy playing it safe?  Or would you rather take a chance (even a small one) even if it means you might fail?

Is your life everything you want it to be... be honest, and if it's not, what would you change?  I don't know if it's just my age or what, but this feeling of anxiety and overall unsettled has fallen over me lately, and I find myself daydreaming of a better life.  I want to be the person who can take chances, but after years of perfecting safe, that is a tall order and a challenge to change.  The idea of trying and failing is easily the biggest reason most people don't take chances.

So I am going to start taking my own advice - a bitter pill to swallow for certain - and I am going to leap.  I have a list of 4 agents and what is needed for each of them to submit my manuscript.  This part of the process is so much harder than the actual writing, but it's what I want in my life, so I need to just get over the fear of the rejection and get the ball rolling.  I need to accept the fact that I love this book and want to share it with everyone.  For those of you who know me, you understand how difficult that last statement really is for me to say out loud  :)

So, your homework for the week is to find one small thing in your life that you want to take a leap with.  It could be a difficult conversation or finding time to work out again.  Anything that might take you out of your safe zone and feels uncomfortable will work.  It doesn't have to be anything major either... we're taking baby steps this week.  

Next week I will have something else in store for you :)

Have a Happy Sunday!

Leap

This word has been a recurring theme in my life lately.

Leap, and the net will appear.

It's something that is so easy to forget and so difficult to do.  Nobody wants to leap willingly, and more often than not, there is someone pushing you from behind.... all the while telling you to leap.  Playing it safe is undoubtedly the easy path to take, but I know for a fact that happiness can't be found that way.  Ironically, when we push ourselves past our comfort zones - whether it be a diet, a job, or in this case, trying to publish a book - we find that odd satisfaction that makes the discomfort worth it.

Do I want to spend every minute of free time trying to figure out how to write query letters to agents
who may or may not ever read a word of my book?  Not really, but I have to, because I have set this as my goal and right now that is everything to me.  I have become one of those narrow-minded people who only wants to talk, write, and think about what needs to be done.

I'm annoying to myself at this point.

But I have decided to leap and there's no turning back for me now.  I only wish I had more time-energy-money to do more, and I personally want to thank everyone who has been behind me, pushing encouraging me to leap.

I'm not even sure it'll be worth it in the end, but that's the whole point to leaping.  We're never really sure the net will appear.  It requires faith and courage, two things that can be considered the wings of leaping.  

“The true meaning of courage is to be afraid, and then, with your knees knocking and your heart racing, to step out anyway—even when that step makes sense to nobody but you. I know that’s not easy. But making a bold move is the only way to truly advance toward the grandest vision the universe has for you.” ~ Oprah Winfrey

That, my friends, is the Oprah definition of leaping.

Happy Thursday...