Do
you struggle with unfinished writing projects? A survey by a popular writing blog
revealed that 72% of writers answered “yes” to this question http://thewritepractice.com/finish-projects/.
I can certainly count myself among them. Several unfinished Works in Progress
(WIP) patiently wait in my computer files for me to return to them and revive
our once loyal and loving relationship.
I
start out with the best of intentions when our relationship is fresh and
uncomplicated. I make a solemn promise to stick with my current WIP through
thick and thin. In spite of my strong commitment, it doesn’t take long before
things go wrong. The WIP begins to display its faults and no longer looks as
attractive to me as it did when we were first courting. Once our relationship starts
to fall apart, I begin to have doubts about whether this WIP is the right one
for me.
Before
I know it, our relationship has slid further downhill as my WIP grows stubborn
and irritating. I find myself becoming more negative and critical towards it with
each passing day. Soon I’m easily tempted to stray whenever other appealing ideas
whisper seductively in my ear. It becomes increasingly difficult for me to
resist the urge to throw myself into these promising new relationships. After
all, if I tie myself down to this WIP, I’ll be passing up the chance to take
advantage of all these other wonderful opportunities.
However,
by now I’ve started to feel rather guilty about breaking up with my current
WIP. Perhaps I should shoulder some of the blame. So what do I need to do to avoid
this temptation to stray and stay faithful to my current WIP? Well, perhaps I
need an attitude adjustment. Maybe it’s my behaviour that needs to change if we
are to be successful in sustaining our relationship. So I decided to do some
research to discover what was at the root of my commitment problem and develop
some strategies to deal with it.
My
research helped me recognize that my tendency to flirt with seductive new ideas
was the result rather than the cause of my commitment phobia. Two particularly
persistent troublemakers were those evil twins, procrastination and
perfectionism. Together they conspired to keep me from remaining faithful to my
current WIP. Their bullying behaviour was disruptive and dispiriting. It distracted
me from my WIP and deterred me from achieving my goals. Fortunately, two of my
oldest and dearest friends, patience and persistence, showed up to rescue me
from their clutches and set me back on the “write” path.
In
addition, I discovered it would take a lot of dedication, determination, and
discipline on my part to maintain and nurture my relationship with my current
WIP. However, there’s no need for me to struggle with all of these commitment
issues on my own. Fortunately, I know that I can pray to God and ask Him for
help and direction. If I listen for His voice and trust in Him, He will guide
me along the “write” path so I can fulfill my commitment to the WIP He originally
chose for me.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left,
your ears will hear a voice behind
you, saying,
“This is the way; walk in it.”
~Isaiah
30:21(NIV)
So now when those tempting new ideas come
calling, I politely take note of them. However, I keep my promise to stay faithful
and ensure that my heart and calendar remain open to fulfill my commitment to
my current WIP.
