Success in its highest and noblest form calls for peace of mind and enjoyment and happiness which come only to the man who has found the work that he likes best.” Napoleon Hill

We all need an energy boost from time and time. Finding ways to keep ourselves motivated is one of the keys to a rewarding writing life. Eric Maisel, an author and creativity coach, has some advice to share:

1) Avoid the “maybe trap:” Make your work a true priority — and don’t let your intention to write slip away. As Eric puts it, “A lot of people get stuck in maybe and ‘maybe’ almost always turns to no. One way to bypass this problem says Eric, is to try to get your writing done in the morning. “When you get your writing done first thing in the morning, the rest of your day can be half meaningless and you won’t get depressed.” Mmm… something to think about, isn’t it?

2) Safeguard your energy: According to Eric, many of us tend to overemphasize how we’re feeling — and let this get in the way of what are really capable of accomplishing. Watch your self-talk! For example, after a writing stint, instead of telling yourself, “Wow, I’m so tired,” tell yourself, “I haven’t exhausted myself yet” — and keep going. There are two kinds of tiredness: physical and mental. “You can still write when you’re physically tired,” notes Eric. So push yourself past what you think your limit is and you’ll find that boundary stretches. A personal note: I’ve definitely found this to be true — and often tell myself, “I can still give another 15% here.” When you get into the habit of doing more, you’ll find you can do more than you think.

3) Stay strong: Don’t lose faith in yourself when you hit a rough spot or delude yourself into thinking that famous authors have something “special” that you lack — it’s not true! Practicing your craft and overcoming negative self-talk — these are the keys to a fulfilling creative life. And they are available to all of us in equal measure. So let’s write on!