Dealing with ‘The Devil on my Shoulder’

I can't be the only one...can I?  

I've found the past few months tough for various reasons, but in particular, all my life, I've been one of those individuals who strive to finish what I've started.

Forget COVID; this isn't about COVID; it's about a fifty-five-year-old woman with insecurities. "Am I too fat? Does this suit me?  Am I too old?  I need to do this and this by such and such a date, and if I don't, I'm a failure! No one's bought my book today – they must hate it!"  And on and on! 

I can't be the only one with a nagging devil on her shoulder?  The little critter who never stops finding fault with you, putting pressure on you, ALL the time. Mine questions me repeatedly, why I haven't done this or that? And if not, why not! His grating, negative voice never stops.

It’s taken me some time to accept that nothing happens fast in the writing world, added with my imagination as a writer and my sales and marketing background, this world drives me crazy! I want everything done and dusted by yesterday! (I need to pay back my loan!) LOL 

So, what's the point of this vomiting rant? The point is I need to slow down to enjoy my writing; forget about marketing and promoting the books, it can wait, and I need to swipe that badgering devil off my shoulder! 

It all came to light when my husband and partner of thirty plus years gave me a piece of paper recently that read...

"Slow me down, Lord, ease the pounding of my heart.

Quieten my racing heart, steady my hurried steps

Amidst the confusion of my days

Give me the calmness of the everlasting hills

Help me to know the magical restoring power of sleep

Teach me the art of taking time off

Of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend

To read a few lines from a good book

Remind me each day that there is more to life than

increasing its speed

Let me look upwards into the branches of a towering oak,

And know it grew great and strong

because it grew slowly and well

Slow me down, Lord,

Teach me to be gentle and humble of heart

So that I may find rest for my soul. 

Anon.

I suppose he was trying to tell me something! This prayer now sits on my desk, and I try to read it every day. Why not print it off and do the same? I/we all need to slow down, take stock of our lovely world and be kind to ourselves.

Phew, I feel better for that already!

Thank you, as always, for all your support and the amazing reviews; you'll never know how much it means to me.

Jx