How I Spell Relief
Thursday, March 18th, 2010Okay, so I’ve found relief on the subject of debt. Now I need to find relief on the subject of creating an income, and more specifically, on the subject of selling my books.
Yesterday, I received an e-mail from an agent who had requested a partial of my novel manuscript. She said she enjoyed it and it was very well-written but that she didn’t connect with the main character as much as she’d hoped.
Funny thing, that. My old agent, who decided not to represent the manuscript, said one of the things she did love about it was how compelling the main character was.
As you can see, it’s not about the facts. The facts vary from person to person.
Over the last week or so, I’ve received several rejections to my manuscript query letters. These letters have really been upsetting me. I’ve felt the grinding clench in my belly whenever I saw one.
Two days ago, though, when I got a rejection, I caught myself feeling bad and deliberately went looking for a better thought: “Okay, so I don’t like having my work rejection. What do I want? I want to find an agent who loves my manuscript and the way I write and is enthusiastic about representing me. I don’t need to agonize over each rejection because the universe will bring me the right agent at the right time when I just relax and allow.”
I reminded myself of a story a friend told me last week. She lives in New York City and has to hail cabs on a regular basis. She said she and her sister used to get very upset when cabs would pass them by, but my friend’s mother would tell them not to get upset because the right cab would come along. My friend said that she learned her mom was right. Often, when a cab finally did pick them up, they’d take my friend and her sister to their destination and not accept payment for the fare.
I know that my writing success isn’t about my talent so much as it’s about my vibration. In the past, I’ve always gotten upset by every rejection I’ve received. Obviously, this upset was a disallowance of what I wanted. Every time I got upset, I pushed away acceptance. And I got another rejection. And got more upset. And got another rejection…. And so on and so on and so on.
Abraham-Hicks says we’re never standing still even when it feels that way. We’re never stuck. We’re just creating the same thing over and over.
So I’m learning to relax about rejection. When I got the one yesterday from the agent who couldn’t connect with my main character, I only felt the slightest tension and annoyance before I caught myself and said, “I appreciate the contrast to remind me that I want an enthusiastic agent. The right agent is out there. In the meantime, I appreciate my ability to write and the fact that I keep being told that my writing is good.” And I could feel the relief.
So how do I spell relief? F-O-C-U-S. I focus on a good-feeling thought or experience. And I feel relief.
Are you finding ways to release resistance to what you desire? I’d love to hear your story.
