As we approach another new year, and perhaps begin pondering our resolutions for 2012, I wanted to take a moment to share insights from David Ellzey, author of Ocean of Now and CEO of David Ellzey Companies. As an expert in The Sedona Method, David travels the world teaching writers how to break down self-defeating emotions in order to access the true power of their authentic creativity.
David's work, and The Sedona Method, are critical companions on the road toward becoming a successful author. At various times, to varying degrees, most of us authors find ourselves stymied by disempowering beliefs that prevent us from doing the work we were so clearly born to do. Self-critique becomes such a common part of our days, in fact, that we forget to notice it. Something happens, David elaborates, and "we take that nanosecond to tell ourselves we're not good enough." That message eventually controls our actions, often preventing us from taking any action at all. Before we know it, another year has passed and our book proposal still isn't written, our platform still isn't growing, and we're still utterly stuck in our careers and our lives.
The question is, how do you move beyond those emotions? How do you turn your negative belief about yourself into positive energy you can dedicate to crafting your next bestseller?
The first thing you need to do, David says, is pinpoint what's holding you back -- is it fear, self-doubt, or other? To figure that out, look a trusted friend in the eye, and without thinking, blurt out the one thing preventing you from pursuing your dream of becoming a successful author.
With that "one thing" in mind, you can then use David's three-step process, which he calls the "Welcome, Could I, Would I," to begin moving beyond that emotional block, and into your authentic power and creativity.
Here's how David's "Welcome, Could I, Would I" process works:
Welcome. Acknowledging and accepting your "one thing," the primary emotion standing between you and your dream of being a successful author, is the fastest way to dissolve it. "Resistance," David explains, "is futile, and actually contributes to your suffering." This is one area where positive thinking may actually work against you. If you're not feeling positive, don't try to pretend that you are. "When you have an emotion, you have to at least stop and allow it to be there," he says.
Could I? Now that you've welcomed your "one thing" emotion, it's time to challenge yourself. Raise your hands high above your head and imagine you're physically carrying your "one thing." Feel its full weight in your arms, and then ask yourself: Could I carry this around for the rest of my life? Could I sustain this posture and bear this burden until death do us part?
That question, David explains, helps you understand that you can, in fact, let go of damaging beliefs, including those you've carried around since childhood. This simple exercise forces you to quickly grasp the full burden of your self-destructive thinking, and internalize how exhausting it is to continue lugging these emotions around with you.
Would I? With the weight of your negative "one thing" belief in mind, you need to honestly assess if you're willing to release it. Take a moment to ask yourself these questions: Would I truly and earnestly be willing to release that feeling? Would I be willing to feel talented, valuable, important, successful, wealthy, or [fill-in-the-blank]?
Letting go of your negative belief requires a full commitment -- mental, emotional, spiritual, and even physical -- so your most honest answers to these questions are the only ones that count.
If you're consistently answering with "Yes!", you need to ask yourself one final question: When? By this point, you want to make a firm commitment, so make your answer as specific as possible.
The purpose of this three-step process is to free yourself in the moment, not necessarily to go through the process once and be free for the rest of your life. It's a tool you can use over and over again.
I can tell you from experience, however, that that the more "free" moments you accumulate, the easier it is for you to exist in a "free" state on a day-to-day basis, and then take positive actions toward achieving your biggest goals for 2012.
Arielle Ford has launched the careers of many New York Times bestselling authors including Deepak Chopra, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Neale Donald Walsch & Debbie Ford. She is a former book publicist, literary agent and the author of seven books.