I Stopped Letting Worry and Impatience Steal my Peace

Read Book Update #5, first

As I mentioned in my last update the day after I sent my manuscript to Cole, my developmental editor at Wise Ink, we met over video on Zoom so he could get to know me, understand the goals of my book and explain his editing and communication process to me.

First, I shared my book goals with him so he could keep them in mind as he edited my manuscript:

1. Share my vulnerable stories so readers can connect deeper with themselves through them.

2. Let readers know they aren’t alone; provide hope and inspiration

3. Convey it’s their responsibility to do personal work to heal from their past

4. Include useful tools and resources

5. Impact people in such a profound way that they share this book with others

6. Fill up future workshops, programs, and retreats

7. Receive offers for speaking engagements for audiences ready to hear this message.

Next, I also let him know which chapters I was struggling with and wanted his extra guidance on.

He explained his editing process to me and let me know it would take 2-3 weeks to get back to me with comments on my manuscript along with a letter pointing out strengths as well as issues and strategies on how to resolve them.

After we ended our time together, the waiting game began for me. Oh geez. I finally feel like I am in the flow. Now I have to wait. 

The first couple of days were easy to handle because I packed up my belongings from my temporary home at the Orlando Inn, drove home, and got resettled in my completely safe home. Thank you, God! 

Day three was a little more challenging, however, because I previously had the routine of waking up early to meditate and then headed off to Starbucks to work on my book. I still got up early to meditate, only now I couldn’t work on my book because whatever I worked on Cole could suggest changing. So now, what do I do? I feel a little stir crazy just waiting.

Believe me, it’s not that I was short of items on my To-Do Lists. It is like those times you get unexpected free time, and even though you have a gazillion things you could work on you don’t know what to do with your time.

Slowly, I plucked away at a couple of items on my list and realized it would be in my best interest to once again employ my therapists sage advice to take some downtime (duh!) to help my mind and body rest, relax and rejuvenate. I knew when I received the developmental edits back that my horse blinders would go on and it would be ‘go time’ for at least a solid month.

So I relaxed my mind and body while filling up my soul through:

• Extra meditation time
• A pajama day filled with bonus naps
• Meals with friends
• Extra EFT/Tapping time
• Massages
• Restorative yoga with Thai massage
• Full moon drum circle on the beach
• Movie
• Beach time

I also wrapped up a few projects on my ’90-Day Divine Plan’ that had deadlines including filing my 2018 taxes, which in hindsight was a serendipitous process.

Plus I had made a decision at the beginning of July to no longer participate in expos showcasing Lemongrass Spa products. I felt guided to let that part of my business go to free up time and energy to focus on my book. That meant clearing out any extra inventory and display items from my storage closet.

I was surprised I felt an internal conflict around letting those things go but realized why:

First, I’d been doing events for so long they were easy for me to do. Prior to Lemongrass Spa, I owned Julie Jacky Jewelry for 10+ years, and before that, I made a variety of different crafts – so for well over 20 years, I showcased products at various expos. It was emotional saying goodbye because I felt like I was letting go of a part of my life from the past 20 years.

The other reason it was hard for me is because I love their fresh and clean products, use them every day, and still wanted to share them with others. Ultimately, I resolved that I will continue sharing them in my Facebook group with interested friends, but anything more time-intensive than that has stopped.

I also realized that it can be hard to let go of the good, but sometimes it is necessary to make way for something new.

The other things I needed to let go of were all the thoughts and fears in my mind around what Cole would say about my book. He’s the first person, other than myself, to read my full book. I worried about how many pages long his letter to me would be with issues I needed to correct. I even started stressing about getting everything fixed by the next deadline. 

That was a lot of energy stealing my peace about things out of my control. 

I let it go.

I concluded that the edits will arrive at the perfect time and will help me enhance my book to reach my goals to impact the readers. I was guided to write this book after I moved to Florida, and the guidance isn’t going to stop now. I just have to keep listening and following it.

Read book update #7… to find out why my editor said “fair warning” about my manuscript.

P.S. I’d love to hear from you. Comment below anything you found interesting, are curious about and want to know more or something you realized you need to let go. 

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