“One important key to success is self-confidence. And one key to self-confidence is preparation.” Arthur Ashe

“Constant repetition carries conviction.” Robert Collier

How do we create the conviction we need to keep going when it seems like our writing isn’t bearing fruit? When we feel discouraged? How do we jump start our confidence and belief in ourselves? As Arthur says so well, self-confidence flows from preparation. So how do we create it?

We keep going:  We keep showing up and working, even when the work isn’t going well. Or when we think we may never finish. Or that no one will want to read what we’ve written. We create conviction by doing the work that earns us the ability to feel confidence in what we’ve done.

We do the work at hand:  Whatever we find on our page, we show up and give it our best. We know that this is exactly where we’re meant to be and that we’re doing exactly what we’re meant to do.

We train our commitment muscle: When we do the work at hand, even when we don’t feel like it, we’re showing the universe that we’re committed — we’re ready to do whatever it takes.

We find joy and purpose in the doing:  When we don’t worry about where we’re going or whether we’ll get there — we take pleasure and joy and pride in just doing what we’re meant to do,

We stay in today:  We focus on the present moment, the present need. We let everything else — all the distractions, all the concerns, all the cravings go. We release them and give the moment our all.

My friend and mentor Dr.Rob Gilbert* says that there’s a virtual cycle that shifts into gear when we put in the time and do the work: The more we do, the better the results, and the better the results, the better we feel, and the better we feel, the more we do.

So let’s create conviction! Let’s fuel our self-confidence. “One important key to success is self-confidence. And one key to self-confidence is preparation.” Let’s do the work it takes to succeed as we all write on!

*Check out Dr. Gilbert’s Success Hotline: 973.743.4690.