HAPPINESS: OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW -- FOR WRITERS

OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW -- FOR WRITERS

March 02, 2019 in Essay

How will I know when I have made it to the other side of the rainbow, some days I just feel like giving up? Ever been there? Have you ever wondered “Where the Hell is That Rainbow!”

Sunset in Kentucky

Many of us know the feeling of “hitting a wall” and you wonder what the best way is to get past them. I can tell you from experience that there will always be walls and there will always be a way to get past, over or around them.

One way people think of getting past their challenges is to take a break. They think that getting away and changing direction is the best course of action. Only you can know when it is necessary to make a big change, but there is something to say about not giving up.

You need to be consistent with your writing and loyal to your audience. When you think the answer is to leave, you will find that your problems just go with you or they are still there are there when you get back.

What works best is to push past the blocks and simply write. There will be times when the words write themselves and magically appear on the page and you end up with satisfaction, but when you are discouraged or too chaotic to write, that’s when you should sit yourself down and do some free writing. Just let it flow out. Get into it with the mindset that you may throw away the first few minutes of writing, but you need to start by putting pen to paper or fingers on the keyboard. Then allow yourself to be amazed at what starts coming out. Maybe it is a short blog post or some characters who want to be part of your storyline. Anything is possible.

Look at it this way. If you are a writer, author or an author wannabe, you are also a business owner. Yes, you are in the business of writing for an audience, keeping the attention of your audience and giving your fans what they crave. You must learn to think like a business owner, besides being a writer, you must sell yourself and learn to get to know your audience and get your work noticed. Even writers with large advances or book deals need to stay focused on writing content that will continue to delight their fans.

Success Coach Joy Writers Program

Four solid facts to get to the other side of the rainbow for writers.

1. Stay committed to your writing. don’t completely change directions. Go past the grind phase; stick with it. You can completely overcome any blocks by writing. You can create success with consistency. Just keep writing.

2. Innovate to get better results. Offer your audience something that goes along with your book such as a writing group, writing coaching or even book review barters. Anything you can do to keep your name and message in front of your target audience is something else you can use to build your fan base. Add a short story or e-book with information which will educate as well as entertain your offerings so your fans can meet you and find out about your full body of work.

3. Mastermind with others. Find a way to communicate with other writers, published authors or wannabees. Attend book signings locally or attend book launches online.

Start a book discussion club to find out what your target audience wants and needs. Pay attention to what other authors and writers are doing. Authors today are marketing and pre-selling even before their book is finished. You will find creative ways of reaching your audience and possibly find collaboration with other authors.

4. Meditation or Visualizing Your Success. I’ve done it again, I cannot write an article without mentioning the benefit of quiet reflection, spending time in nature or taking the time to visualize the people you can help with your writing. Visualize what your life will be like when you hold your completed book in your hands and are selling it on Amazon and at your local bookstore. It only takes a few minutes to visualize success.

Now, about that vacation to the other side of the rainbow?

Ohio Sunset

I love to work with writing clients who describe “why” they want to write and why they want to be a published author.

There are people who are driven to write and must write for a variety of reasons. But, if you are looking at writing as a career, you probably have figured that you can pick up your supplies, paper or laptop, and write anywhere. You can write on the road while offering book signings or write while sightseeing or visiting family.

Since that is true, don’t think of the other side of the rainbow as a destination to get to someday. Don’t think of it as a distraction to help you get away and come back fresh. Think of the other side of the rainbow as somewhere you go during some part of every day. It is the “me time” all of us deserve. It might be a trip and a well-deserved “getaway” or “vacation” but remember that you are a writer no matter where you are.

When you are doing what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. Work feels like play.

So, take that vacation whenever you are ready. Spend some time in a different part of the country, or a different country, but remember that taking a trip can be as simple as an afternoon on your deck or the park or can be as complex as a cruise and a visit to a foreign land. Remember, the prize is to enjoy the journey and not become focused on the destination as the only thing that will bring you satisfaction.

By Joy Harris

Website- https://successcoachjoy.blogspot.com
Facebook URL- https://www.facebook.com/joy.harris.successccoach
Tags: Inspiration, Other Side of the Rainbow

HAPPINESS: Published in "What We Love"

"What We Love", Featuring Joy Harris

Published in "What We Love"  

Recently, I took part in a collaborative project where 100 writers submitted articles on LOVE!  Part of submitting an entry to a writing contest, anthology or collaborative book, is to follow the guidelines.  The guidelines generally consist of a theme and a word count.  For me, the biggest challenge is to follow the prompt and write to the theme in the allotted number of words, and no more.

You can download the e-book from Amazon.  For those who do not read e-books online, you can read my entry below.  Thanks!

Order Here




Love Is the Answer!

“Only love can break a heart, only love can mend it again.” ~ Hal David


While working with me, it is not long before clients hear “Love is always the answer, no matter what the question is.” I strongly advise coaching clients to feel love, express love and let love in.

One client replied, “Love will get you nowhere!” Clearly, she could use a dose of unconditional love. I later learned that she went through a breakup and was soured on relationship love.


During our time together, I learned she loved her dog. She loved her parents and cousins and called several older women in her life “aunt” even though they were not blood relatives. They were there for her during childhood and caused her to know how to give love and receive love. Those are precious lessons.


Together we learned she loved trees, birds and all of nature. She loved watching children play and eventually loved journal writing and meditating in the moonlight. Her life was filled with love but she was not acknowledging it. She soon appreciated love in all its forms.


There are many types of love. When you allow yourself to feel deeply, you will discover there is so much to love and your heart will sing with happiness.

Joy Harris, FoundHer of "What Women Write and Why" coaching program known as Success Coach Joy, helps women define success and achieve it.

Follow your dreams, find success and happiness at https://www.facebook.com/joy.harris.successccoach

Theodore

Joy Harris

Success Coach

WEALTH: Holistic Steps to Heal Your Home Business

Holistic Healing for your business, hmmm, what's that!

While looking at stress management and holistic healing for busy executives, it occurs to me that large corporations offer more holistic approaches to healing individuals and business problems than small and medium-size businesses normally do.

Anderson Sky

My experience in Fortune 100 companies over the past 20 years shows corporations interested in workforce diversity and respect, cooperation in place of competition among team members, and empowering employees to take ownership of their work. Companies pay a lot of attention to stress management to keep the organization functioning at the required fast pace. There are frequent communications to employees, departments, and teams to help them realize their contribution, their tiny cog, is IMPERATIVE to the success of the company overall.

The best corporations participate in "bring your daughter to work day", have family picnics or annual get-togethers, encourage celebration and recognition for work well done. Many companies have private "nursing rooms" and some have chair massage therapists come in for employee appreciation events. Some offer family-friendly policies such as flexible schedules and comp time for traveling.

More and more companies are hiring consultants to implement the use of social media and worker-friendly tools and technology. Corporations are using collaborative software to communicate within teams, companies are implementing department and individual blogs (with similar usage policies as their e-mail policies).  Companies are rolling out team style management training where team members take turns facilitating meetings and developing leadership skills.

Employers are recruiting "risk takers" and people who speak up not just "yes men and women" who may have held a high place in yesterday's companies. Company policies no longer pay out weeks and weeks of vacation time, you are encouraged to take your vacation and get away from the company once and a while.

I have seen employers offer a complete package of personal enrichment workshops because a happy employee is more productive. Both employers and employees see the benefits of employee retention and staying with companies who "care" about the workforce. This is becoming commonplace and will be necessary to retain tomorrow's workforce.

If you are a solopreneur or home-based business, be sure to offer yourself the same benefits as the large corporations. Put some dollars in the budget for self-improvement seminars or outings. Books and DVD's abound on the topics of stress management and studies have proven that a rested and relaxed worker is far more productive than a harried and scattered one.

Take a holistic approach to heal your business: If your business is suffering, take some time out for reflection and give yourself some breathing room. Take some time out to evaluate the health of your business ... diagnose where it has been and where it is going. Don't be afraid to re-structure (even if you are the only employee); the big companies do it all the time. Taking a new, refreshed focus on your business practices can bring about cost savings and renewed enthusiasm for you -- which results in greater profit and new customers.

You could just work harder, faster, but that is the way to a heart attack, not the way to healing yourself and your business.

5 Steps to Healing for Your Business:

1. Analyze what needs healing in your business -- be specific
Processes? Procedures? Growth challenges?  Communication?

2. Research possible treatments to heal your business -- many solutions are available
Document what you are doing right and repeat.  Outsource certain things.  Better software / tools.

3. Plan and Implement 1 or 2 treatments right away -- not too many at once
Begin with one improved process or skill and continue until you master it.

4. Don't give up -- stick with your plans
Continuity is key.  Modify the processes if needed, but don't give up.

5. Take the time to document lessons learned -- learn from previous behavior
Keep a business log with goals and steps to meet goals; document and celebrate achievements.

Take a good look at the ways you can heal your business.

Joy Harris
Success Coach
You Define Success

Copyright © 2019

HEALTH: START MEDITATION -- A TIMER CAN HELP

A Timer Can Help

Using a Meditation Timer

When you are first experimenting with meditation, you may only be able to clear your mind for 3 to 5 minutes at a time.

If you use this handy timer, you can build your meditation skills one minute at a time.

One method is to start with 3 minutes set the intention to sit quietly and do not entertain any thoughts.  When you make it a habit to take 6 deep breaths each time you start to quiet your mind.  This will be a signal to your body that you are ready to begin.

Close your eyes, you will see black.  Begin by visualizing a blank place on your forehead that you can use as a dark, empty room between your ears.  Simply set your intentions that you will not entertain any thoughts for 3 or so minutes.

No doubt a stray thought will enter your mind, but simply ignore it and gently usher it out your ears.  Visualize the thought drifting out one of your ears and don't stop to think about it.  When you will hear the sound of your timer, it does not indicate that you should sit up straight and go about your day, it is a gentle reminder that you have met your goal for quiet time.  The timer will remind you to wiggle your toes, begin to move and stretch and gently bring yourself back to awareness of the world out there waiting for you.  When you are ready, you will get back to your day more refreshed.

Increase your meditation time by one minute each time! There is relaxing meditation music online that you may want to play softly while you enjoy this time.

By the time you are up to 15 or 20 minutes -- 3 times a week, you will feel calm and peace as a part of your life.  Each person develops a long term meditation routine, but most people like to practice it daily shortly after they get up.

Experienced in meditation? You may want to set this timer for 20 or more minutes to remind you to get back to work or to get on with your day.  I guarantee meditation will help you stay focused and bring intuitive awareness to you. A meditation timer will help.

Take time out of your busy day for quiet time.

Time

Joy Harris

Success Coach

Copyright © 2019

HAPPINESS: WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL SUCCESSFUL?

MY SUCCESSFUL DAY

I talk a lot about what makes people feel successful.  It comes up with every client that we all start out with dreams when we are young, but many times life gets in the way. 

Today is my day to feel successful.  I see my name in print as a contributor to the book "What We Love" and it shows me that I can write and demonstrate follow through.  It helps me to “feel” successful and know that I can accomplish any goal I sent out to complete.

Much of my past is filled with writing.  I spent over a decade editing newsletters for professional organizations.  I wrote and edited many articles and essays for empowering women.  I learned there are so many women who write for fun.  It starts with diary writing and moves to journal writing.  There are paper journals and journals you can keep in an online journal which can be kept private or shared with the world.

Order from Amazon

Writing can be personal or educational, entertaining or delight your imagination.  Whether you intend to write for the public or not, it is a successful feeling to see your book in print.

There are many reasons to write.  Clients are asked to write out their dreams, their feelings and the goals in the process of taking an amazing journey and feeling successful.  During the process of writing, it generally comes up that they like to write.  Sometimes they want to do more of it.  I truly believe that everyone has a book in them, they just need to get it out.

For those who know they have a book in them, they will need to determine what they want out of becoming an author, they need to find their “why”.  Everyone needs to know the real reason they wanted to write.  There are answers from everything to “I just want to document a part of our family’s story and I will be satisfied if only those close to me ever read it” to “I want to become famous and sell millions of books or make it a part of a series”.  No matter what your “why” is this is the time to make those dreams come true.  

Steps to Success

Writing starts with pen on paper on day one or keys on the keyboard.  Once you have decided to write, you just get to writing.

“You can’t edit a blank page”

Order "What We Love" from Amazon and find my article entitled “Love is the Answer!”.  Leave a review on Amazon and comment below to let me know you were here!

Joy Harris

Success Coach

You Define Success

#Book Review, #What We Love, #Success Coach Joy, #Writer, #Author,  #Happiness 

Copyright © 2019

HEALTH: Is Sleep a necessary evil?

Do we need sleep for success?

If you love to sleep, you can’t understand why some would call sleep a necessary evil.  I remember hating sleep and I was sleep deprived for many years while I was happily surviving on 5 hours … or less … a night.

Taking a holistic view of finding happiness and success requires that we make some efforts to have improved health.  One of the simplest ways to maintain vitality is to respect sleep. 

The Only Place YOU Have to Live

The body has a job to do during the sleeping hours to let it repair damaged tissues, improve memory and boost the immune system.  Most of us care about anti-aging for the skin and controlling body weight, but have you read the research on how sleep is a simple, yet effective way to improve health in those areas and many more.

If you thought the benefits were eliminating bags under the eyes and morning grumpiness, please know that sleep helps heart, mood and brain function.

 Sleep helps memory and learning.  While teaching test-taking tips and I learned a technique to retain your study material is to stop studying the night before the test.  Don’t cram and read right before the test, instead stop studying early and get a good night’s sleep.  This allows the information to be stored properly so they can be recalled later when needed.  Your brain is responsible to send signals to the body for physical and involuntary movement.  It also manages problem solving, handwriting, hearing, and memory.

Getting enough sleep is a small price to pay for good health when studies show that your heart will be healthier with 7 to 9 hours of sleep.  Also, honoring the sleep-wake cycle is protection against cancer and other diseases.

When sleep deficient, the body goes into the production of stress hormones increasing blood pressure and the risk for heart attack and stroke.   The stress hormones increase inflammation creating a greater risk for diabetes and depression.   Also, your cells produce more protein during sleep allowing repair from UV rays, toxins, and stress hormones.

Still resisting sleep?  I thought sleep was a waste of time.  I read about inventors or geniuses who needed little sleep, but once I learned how valuable sleep is in causing the body to age, I gained a new respect for it.

Candle Magic

There are many techniques to encourage good sleep habits.  Allowing your body and mind to wind down an hour or so before you go to bed is a proven technique. 

Watching TV news before sleep is bad for your health as stories that portray violence are not good relaxers.  If you choose to listen to media before sleep, a good choice is meditation music and nature sounds for calming the mind and body.  Meditation does not replace sleep, but it is focused time to slow down breathing and relax muscles.

Change your relationship with sleep.  Restlessness, insomnia and sleep problems can be healed.  Seek a professional if lack of sleep continues after consciously preparing for sleep before going to bed.

Yes, we need sleep for success.  We need sleep for health. 

Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.

Joy Harris

Success Coach

You Define Success

Copyright © 2019