I’ve come to the end of a cycle and I feel both exhausted and exhilarated. I did it! And the “trying” is over. It’s a relief and a new beginning. I’m in a different place than when I started this cycle and that’s a good thing.
Life is a series of intertwined cycles
This particular over-arching cycle was about self-publishing. There were smaller cycles within that larger purpose. There was the cycle of creating the book. There was the cycle of preparing it for publication and then was the exhilaration when the book was published and the cycle was complete.
The cycle of creation
The cycle of creation is often a solitary adventure. We go inside ourselves and make decisions. What is our purpose? Why do we serve the people we’ve chosen to serve? What specifically will we do?
At every stage we have to make decisions. Many of those decisions are simply the best choices based on what you know at the moment. And you’ll usually have to make them alone.
The cycle of preparation
You have to do the work. You have to develop the idea and then you have to decide on the form. If we use my book-publishing metaphor, this is the proofing, editing and formatting stage.
Again, there are decisions to be made. What platform? How to promote it? Is it part of a series?
There are steps to be learned. Like how to make a cover on some of the online programs that now exist. In my case, I chose to learn a new program that made organizing my writing and formatting for the different platforms easy (Scrivener). But I started from scratch in the program and it took some time. I was doing two things at once, learning a new program and learning the requirements of self-publishing.
The reward of producing
Even when it’s time to produce results, there are still some decisions to be made. I found that simply making a choice or deciding on a priority was a bit stressful, particularly when I was still in the learning process of a program or the next step. I kept on putting one foot down in front of the other – one step at a time, one tutorial, one section of the manual, one more set of instructions.
The relief and elation when I finally got my book up on Amazon was huge. There was a definite sense of pride because it had been ten years since I put a book up there. It felt really good. And there was a strong sense of contributing to the world in a meaningful manner. And I will put it on other platforms, so my work is not yet complete.
The qualities of progress
There is discipline involved in creation. And persistence. And determination. Oh yes, and trust.
Discipline is setting aside time every day to move the project forward.
Persistence is looking at a tutorial for the sixth time because each time you understand a bit more.
Determination means you keep your eye on the goal. My goal was to learn the steps to self-publishing so I could publish more books.
Trust is mixed in throughout the cycle. You must trust that you have the ability to do it. Trust that even though it seems to be taking a long time, it is the perfect amount of time it should take. Trust that your core intention is valid and important to others. And trust that you are the only person who can do this particular work.
And then a new cycle begins
Even as I was working diligently to bring to an end this cycle of learning the steps to Scrivener and getting my books up on Amazon, iBooks, Nook and Kobo, I started other books. And what I know for certain is that this new cycle will be easier and the results will be even better than the results of the previous cycle because I have walked the path before.
I know more. I see a broader perspective. I’m further ahead in my skill set. And I’m more confident.
And that’s what happens when you come to the end of a cycle. A brand new one opens up that’s filled with possibilities you had never imagined. Enjoy the journey.
To Sing a Deeper Song consider:
What Do You Do for People That They Can’t Get Elsewhere?
When Do You Let Go?
Learn to Honor Your Inner Rhythm
The Freedom of Not knowing
Lose Your Attachment to the Outcome
37-Self Mastery As a Choice
36 – Engage the Power of Trust
35—How to Hold the Space for Change.
34- Use Labels to Expand Your Possibilities
