3 Reflective Techniques That Will Give You Courage to Write Instantly

Hint: Why do you write?

“Should I keep doing this?”

I said to myself as I laid on my bed in discomfort. I stared at my computer in disgust as exhaustion took over my mind. I’ve been writing every day for three-plus months now and believe me, I’ve had days where I didn’t want to write. But something was different about that night.

Instead of taking a break, I asked myself is this all worth it.

While I’ve never had the intention of writing for money, it seemed like I’d do myself and everyone else a favor if I just stopped. It’s probably for the best right?

After a few minutes of contemplating my decision, I got my ass back in that chair and started writing immediately.

Here’s how I got back into the game (even though I never really left).

Evaluate the costs and benefits of quitting.

I can say whole-heartedly that 95% of our decisions would be more efficient if we thought like economists. If you sit down and make a mental list of the costs and benefits quitting, it’ll change your whole perspective on perseverance.

Here are the costs of quitting: I don’t become a successful writer, all the progress I’ve made over the past three months goes up in flames, I’d have to get a full-time job while trying to do my writing on the side (not fun), I’ll disappoint the followers I have now.

Here are the benefits of quitting: I don’t lose time writing anymore.

When you look at something like this, it’s obvious which choice is best. There are so many things I haven’t done yet as a writer that I want to see. I can’t quit now because the costs are just too much.

Think rationally about this decision by weighing your costs and benefits in your mind or on paper.

Think about all the people who encouraged you along the way.

I just wanna take a second right now to thank every single person who’s commented, clapped, highlighted, or read one paragraph of my articles. Seriously, it means a lot.

That’s what keeps me going. Seeing all the encouragement I get from people who resonated with my writing is unbelievable.

If I get love like this right now, who knows how much I could get in the future if I keep working on my craft. People want to see my growth and so do I — stopping is hell no.

Anyone who gave you the slightest engagement in your article sees something in you that you don’t see in yourself. You have the potential to do this. It just takes a little bit of patience.

Think about why you got into it in the first place.

I remember sitting in my grandma’s basement on my computer and I asked myself one question that confirmed to me that writing is my purpose.

“If someone cut off your limbs and you couldn’t write ever again, how would you feel?”

……*sniffles*.

My eyes get watery thinking about this question.

It scares me to death. If I couldn’t write ever again, that’s like stabbing a burning knife into my heart. I can’t live without it.

That’s why I got into writing. Sure, the money and the notoriety are good bonuses, but writing always helps me cope with myself. Whenever I can’t get my thoughts out properly when I speak, I write.

I write because I love it. And if you love something that much, can you truly let it go in one breath?

Final Thoughts

The main takeaway of this post is to keep going. Never, ever, ever stop. Do you hear me?

Evaluate the costs and benefits of quitting, think about the people who encouraged you along the way, and think about why you got into it in the first place.

Your words mean something.

You’re not writing hollow sentences. It means something to you and your audience. And that my friend, is a superpower of its own.

So do me a favor.

Write on.