Dear Reader Column 06-26-07

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Dear Reader,

When I'm writing a column inevitably there always comes a point when I hit the "hard part." I feel agitated. The words I need are on the screen in front of me, or in my thoughts, but I'm not quite sure what the lead should be, or how to attack it. When I start feeling that agitation, then I check my email. It gives me relief. But eventually I have to face the "hard part" otherwise in the morning there'll be an empty space in the book club read.

I've been doing this "checking-my-email-avoiding-the-hard-part" thing for years, but I never really analyzed it until the other day. I was furious with myself because I'd been working on a project for months and I couldn't understand why I couldn't seem to make any real progress. Usually if I want to do something, I always find the time to do it. So why couldn't I stay on task?

But then it dawned on me, that the reason I wasn't making any progress, was because whenever I'd hit the "hard part," whenever I'd feel that familiar agitation, instead of checking my email, I'd pull away and go work on other things. Granted, they were logical, worthwhile things, that needed to get done, but what I was really doing was running away from the "hard part." And since there wasn't a deadline, like there is with my column, nothing was forcing me to go back and plow my way through.

It was like Suzanne's own personal little shrink session. Finally I understood! Now I love working on the project and when I start feeling that dreadful agitation, I don't try to stop it, or run away. Instead I remind myself that those feelings are simply a signal that I'm working my way through the "hard part."

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

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Comments

[Sharon]

Suzanne, I think you must be heaven sent! I've been bumping against a "hard part"for quite awhile now and I had a moment of clarity, myself, at 6 this morning. Everything I've read since then has confirmed it---and this post is one of those confirmations.

Thanks. I hope you know how much you're appreciated.