Turning Negatives into Positives: A Positive Post

by Jean Kavich Bloom

I’ll admit it one more time—I can be the glass-half-empty person in any room, and I’m good at it. This is the tendency to be negative far more often than positive and far more readily. I’ve tried, however, to learn to turn lurking negatives into firm positives. 

For instance, I’ve still not (once again) reached an ideal weight range for my height and build—and maybe age—but I tell myself how much less I weigh than I once did, how much less I weigh even since the first of this year. I respond better to that assessment than a focus on how far I have to go, and I’m encouraged to stay on a good, positive eating plan.

This weekend I’m presenting at my church’s writers’ group, addressing some mistakes writers should avoid (and there’s that should word!). I’ve chosen the title “A Watch-Out List for Writers.” Watching sounds much more pleasant and do-able than avoiding, doesn’t it? I’m also working on making the presentation more encouraging than defeating.

But when it comes to progress on my own writing, which I publicly announced has changed in focus from nonfiction to fiction (was that a positive or negative move?), negative thoughts are already at work:

I have so many editing projects to complete before my vacation. They’re more important than my own writing.

I spent all day revamping my work-in-progress, and I think I made it worse! Maybe I should start a new writing project.

I’ll just take care of my volunteer editing. I don’t want to be late with it.

Do I know how ridiculous this is? Yes, I do. This is another area where I need to turn negatives into positives, excuses into action.

My editing projects are all scheduled with plenty of time to complete them. I can take designated time to write for myself.

Are you nuts? (Okay, that question is a touch negative too.) You know writing is all about rewriting. No author gets it right the first time—or the second, third, or fourth. Keep at it.

Is the volunteer editing due? No. Is it needed right away? No. Enough said. Get to work.

Here’s a bonus positive thought:

Do you like writing fiction, even though it’s challenging and it’s easy to make excuses not to do it? Yes. Then just do it. Stop letting all these other pulls get in the way.

Country music’s philosopher Willie Nelson said, “Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.” Now there’s a thought! But there's no use beating yourself up about negative thoughts. That's why I also like the quote on this chalkboard image above: "Never a failure, always a lesson."

What negative thought might be keeping you from as much progress in your writing as possible? What lesson can you turn into a positive? 

photo credit: https://publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=237509&picture=chalkboard-quote

Jean Kavich Bloom is a freelance editor and writer for Christian publishers and ministries (Bloom in Words Editorial Services), with more than thirty years of experience in the book publishing world. She is a regular contributor to The Glorious Table, a blog for women of all ages. Her published books are Bible Promises for God's Precious Princess and Bible Promises for God's Treasured Boy. She and her husband, Cal, live in central Indiana. They have three children (plus two who married in) and five grandchildren.