“All is As it Should Be” (keep repeating as needed)

After I allowed myself to consider giving up on my novel, a funny thing happened. The universe conspired to get me back into it. A Fat Plum client left me a voice mail saying she was trying unsuccessfully to reach Judy (who was having email issues), so I called Judy, who I hadn’t talked to since before the holidays. Before I could tell her about my recent agent rejection, she asked me to be part of a new writers group where we would power-read each other’s completed novels and fine-tune them into salable works. Her gung-ho “this is the year we make this happen” attitude was just what I needed. So I agreed to give it another shot.

Part of my saying yes was my new year’s resolution to remain open to whatever life brings me in 2008, in the hopes that the universe knows better than I what my true purpose and path is. I also came to the conclusion that while 2007 was a year in which I craved solitude and stillness, this year I was ready to re-engage in the world.

I felt such high energy that first week of 2008, like I was stepping into a wonderful flow. So I said yes to the power-novel-revise group. Yes to new copywriting projects. Yes to writing a business parable book. Yes to taking a screenwriting class. Yes to helping strangers who want their voices heard through writing.

And, of course, by this week I felt completely overwhelmed and drained. I found myself questioning why the universe brought me so many new things.

“Because you said you wanted to re-engage,” my husband said.

“I know, I know, but it’s too much,” I whined.

“Well, maybe it’s supposed to be a lesson in prioritizing what you really want,” he said.

“But I don’t know what I really want! That’s why I handed it over to the universe!”

I mean, come on, God surely knows me enough by now to know that I am easily overwhelmed. So why is he tossing all this on me? Especially the strangers who want writing help. I don’t think that’s a priority test. I don’t think I’m supposed to just blow off fellow writers. I was really in a quandary about this in particular.

Then, in the course of researching for the business parable book I’m writing, I read Flipping the Switch by John Miller. It’s about taking personal accountability — eliminating blame, complaining and procrastination — by asking the Question Behind the Question ™. QBQs begin with the words “What” or “How.” So instead of whining, “Why are these people calling me now, when I’m so busy?!” I should be asking, “How can I help them, given the little time I have to offer?”

That shift in thinking really helped. I still have one person I haven’t called back (hey, baby steps), but the other two people I was able to connect with and, I think, help them move forward without over-committing myself. And I’m now trying to ask QBQs in the other areas of my life, like “What needs my attention today?” I hope it will help me embrace all the new things coming my way in 2008. My new mantra, from Jon Gordon’s great parable The Energy Bus , is “I’m too blessed to be stressed.”

It hasn’t gone unnoticed that the skills I’m learning through one new endeavor are helping me with another. There is no such thing as coincidence and everything is unfolding as it should. I must remember that.