So you’re interested in writing, eh?
Well, let me tell you, most of us are driven by one of two reasons: either we’re pretty darn good at it and can’t get enough, or we know we’ve got room to improve and are eager to learn all the tips and tricks to get better.
Yours truly falls into the latter category.
Believe me, I’ve had my fair share of struggles.
But my passion for writing and desire to improve outweigh any embarrassment, criticism, or fears that come my way.
Now, let me share with you a few things I’ve learned that help me stay focused, push through the doubts, and keep improving my writing every day.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a blog or just looking to up your writing game, I hope these insights help you as much as they’ve helped me.
Stay tuned for some writing habits for personal growth!
Harnessing the Power of Focus Words for Writing Success and Building Good Habits
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotle
1. Embrace the Work for Personal Growth
Write.
Neil Gaiman
Now, this might not seem like a groundbreaking tip, but hear me out. Sometimes, the most important thing you can do is simply show up and do the work.
I once read a blog post by a successful author who shared a story about an indie writer who had published one book and asked for advice on how to find success.
The successful author’s response?
He’d written 13 books.
The message was crystal clear: keep writing.
Many accomplished bloggers will tell you not to give up too soon. Three or six months just isn’t enough time to see the results you want.
They know from experience that perseverance and continuous improvement can lead to success.
So, for us beginners, let’s forget about the few outliers who make it big overnight. Instead, focus on learning and showing up every day to do the work: Write.
2. Start Small and Build Confidence
Sure, writing is easy, but writing well? That’s a whole different ballgame.
We often fall into the trap of thinking we need to write perfectly from the start. We set impossibly high expectations and lose sight of the value of taking small, consistent steps.
I know from experience how hard it is to accept our less-than-stellar work and keep pushing forward. It can be so disheartening that giving up seems like the better option.
And just like that, we stumble at the very first hurdle.
The key is to approach writing like a baby learning to walk. They fall over and over again, but they keep trying.
Picture a baby crying after their first fall, refusing to try again because it’s just too hard. Nobody would ever learn to walk that way!
So start with just one word. Focus on getting comfortable and enjoying the process of expressing your thoughts.
It’s better to write a single sentence today than to plan for 250 words and not do it at all.
Gradually, you’ll progress to paragraphs, then 250 words, 500 words, and eventually 1000 words.
Embrace the fact that you won’t be great at first, and that’s perfectly okay.
By letting go of unrealistic expectations, you’ll find it much easier to sit down and start with just one sentence.
The Importance of Writing in Personal Development
Writing is an essential tool for personal development because it helps you articulate your thoughts, set clear goals, and track your progress.
Putting your thoughts on paper can provide valuable insights and help you identify patterns in your thoughts and behaviour.
Moreover, writing encourages self-reflection and introspection, which are crucial for personal growth.
3. Trust Repetition to Develop Mastery
Think about all the things that were challenging at first—squats, planks, skipping rope, meditation, reading and writing daily, drinking water, or going to bed early.
It’s true for pretty much everything.
I remember when a 30-second plank felt like an eternity. Now, I can hold it much longer without even breaking a sweat.
I couldn’t do a full squat back then, but now I can even eat comfortably in that position (though, admittedly, that would be a bit odd!).
The secret?
Practise every single day. No matter how tough it felt or how much I didn’t want to do it, I kept going.
Writing is no different.
Today, crafting a single sentence might seem like a monumental task. But with repetition, it gets easier.
Gradually, you’ll gain momentum and start enjoying the newfound ease in your writing process.
4. Share Your Work for Accountability and Improvement
We all care about what others think, especially when we’re about to share our work with a large audience.
It’s natural to put our best foot forward, just like we’d pick the perfect outfit, brush our hair one last time, or make sure our makeup is flawless.
Writing every day for your own amusement is like lounging in your PJs, messy hair and all—your most authentic self that you might not want others to see.
However, when you finish a draft and share it with others, it’s time to step up your game.
You’ll want to refine your writing, polishing your words to express yourself more clearly and coherently.
By sharing your work, you’re training your writing muscles to improve.
The takeaway?
When you share your work with others, you’re more likely to push yourself to become a better writer.
Writing and Mental Health: How It Helps Your Wellbeing
Writing for personal growth also has mental health benefits. It can help reduce stress, manage anxiety, and improve your mood.
By expressing your thoughts and emotions through writing, you can gain a better understanding of your feelings and develop healthy coping strategies.
Plus, writing can act as a form of emotional release, making it easier to process and let go of negative thoughts and feelings.
Top 3 Focus Words for Writing and Personal Growth
Out of my 215 Word of the Month Ideas, these are the top focus words that have guided me through my writing journey until it became a daily habit.
These words can work just as well for any life goal for your personal growth you want to pursue.
1. Focus Word for Growth: “Start”
You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.
Jodi Picoult
At the beginning, sitting down in my worn-out chair to write wasn’t easy.
Whenever I was about to write, my brain would suddenly remember tons of other tasks to do. It was resisting the unfamiliar act of writing and craving the familiar (which wasn’t writing).
Steven Pressfield refers to this as “resistance” in his book, The War of Art.
This resistance will continue until our brain learns that writing is a normal activity. So, starting and actually doing it is the only way to make the unfamiliar familiar.
There’s no way around it—you just have to start.
2. Focus Word for Growth: “Create”
When I found myself spending too much time reading other blog posts, I knew I had to make a change.
We want to learn as much as we can, but we also need to be careful not to get sucked down the rabbit hole of endless consumption.
So, I started saying the word “create” out loud whenever I could. In my mind, “create” stands for:
Consume less, create more.
By bringing the focus word “create” to the forefront of my thoughts, I shift my attention from reading to writing and begin to write more consciously and diligently.
I’ve found this approach to be incredibly effective.
3. Focus Word for Growth: “Finish”
The discipline required to complete a creative piece of work is something you can genuinely take pride in. Once you’ve done it […] you’ll know you can do it again. That is an incredibly powerful piece of knowledge.
J.K. Rowling
Developing the habit of finishing what I start puts pressure on me, which ultimately improves my discipline.
I completed my 100-day challenge using this same principle.
When you have a deadline, time becomes a luxury you can’t afford to waste on worrying about outcomes or chasing perfection.
Deadlines encourage you to adopt the “good enough for today” mindset, enabling you to produce the best work you can within the given time frame.
This approach helps me finish blog posts instead of delaying them until they’re “perfect.”
Unlocking the Power of Writing for Personal Transformation
The power of writing for personal transformation lies in its ability to help you explore your inner world, identify areas for growth, and develop the discipline to achieve your goals.
Through writing, you can better understand yourself, challenge limiting beliefs, and create new narratives that empower and inspire you.
Embrace the practice of writing to unlock your full potential and experience lasting personal growth.
Final Thoughts on Writing for Personal Growth
Even professional writers admit that writing is hard, so it’s crucial not to feel discouraged.
We must manage our expectations and consistently show up and do the work.
A small goal paired with small actions is far better than a grand goal with no action.
Remember, repetition is our best path to mastery (or something close to it), and our work is meant to be shared, not hidden away.
Choose one or all three focus words for writing—start, create, or finish—and let them guide you on your successful writing journey for personal growth.
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