How to Keep Great Ideas Flowing Every Day

Eliminate these beliefs and habits to move forward with your writing.

If you have a good idea, use it so that you will not only accomplish something, but so that you can make room for new ones to flow into you.~Deng Ming-Dao

You intend to write and publish quality content every day.

You dream of being a successful author. You join a platform where you can write about any chosen topic. But your momentum stops. You feel like you’ve run out of ideas.

Here are some roadblocks and ways to bypass them.

You’re afraid.

Fear rears its ugly head through self-defeating beliefs and behaviors. Fear leads to perfectionism, procrastination, and leaving things unfinished. You might struggle with all these habits. They get in the way of sharing your gift. You’ll need to get past them if you want to grow.

Perfectionism stunts our growth. We feel stuck because our writing doesn’t measure up to our unrealistic expectations. If you give into perfectionist tendencies, it’ll be hard to practice your skills and improve your craft.

Step away from writing for others and journal your feelings. Why are you afraid to share anything but the most excellent piece? What’s stopping you from taking a risk?

Meditation is another useful tool for getting to the heart of the matter. Sitting in silence brings clarity and focus. Once you know your reasons, you can solve the problem.

Not everyone will enjoy your creations. Others might share constructive criticism, which can be helpful. Try sharing one story at a time without being overcritical. Gently remind the inner critic you’re in charge this time. You might need to commit to hitting publish after one run-through editing session.

Procrastination is related yet trickier. You might not consciously believe there’s anything wrong with your writing. Yet you somehow always end up leaving it until the last minute. In certain circles, I’ve heard procrastination described as a 5-syllable word for fear. Deep down, there’s a chance you’re afraid of being judged or ridiculed. You might also believe your writing isn’t good enough.

To break this habit, you’ll need to face your fears and do the deal. Decide on a time commitment. Set a timer and stick to it. Use this time to edit and find quotes or photos. Read the story aloud, publish, and exhale. Everything’s going to be ok.

Leaving things unfinished stems from perfectionism and procrastination. When fear paralyzes you, it’s hard to move on. If you’re willing to address the core beliefs behind these behaviors, you can work with little effort.

With fear out of the way, it’ll be easier to finish a project. Your faithful readers are waiting for you.

We must have courage to bet on our ideas, to take the calculated risk, and to act. Everyday living requires courage if life is to be effective and bring happiness.~Maxwell Maltz

You think you need inspiration every time you write.

You’re not always going to be inspired. You can still write about something. If you’ve committed to earning income on a platform like this one, you’ll need to write consistently.

Yes, quality matters. But you don’t need to dazzle your readers with a masterpiece every day. If you try too hard, it could backfire. Your audience needs to see your humanity, and you need to chill out with the perfectionism previously mentioned.

If you believe you need a spark to create, it might feel like writer’s block. Your brain will feel like it’s frozen in place.

Do something else for a while, something that doesn’t involve writing. Spend time outdoors, have tea with a friend, or watch a movie. Don’t push for ideas. They’ll eventually flow.

Clinging to this belief might prevent you from starting anything. You’re not inspired, so why bother trying at all? Then you’re stuck with no material until you get a sudden flash of insight and power out one of your best articles yet.

I used to stop writing when my ideas weren’t sparkly enough. They don’t always have to be extraordinary. Stories need to interest your readers and resonate. If the subject matter is relevant to their lives, they’ll keep reading.

You’re not creative enough.

You could be perpetuating a belief you lack talent or skill.

The layers run deep with this one. Is there any truth to the belief? Do you struggle with low self-esteem, or do you need to seek out training to hone your craft?

If low self-esteem is controlling you, it’s time you address it. Left unchecked, you could allow it to rule your important life decisions.

Maybe you believe you’re not a good writer. If you want to be an outstanding author, do everything you can to create with words. Talent can be easier to spot. It’ll feel good in your soul. It feels like magic spills onto the page on more than one occasion.

You can build your skills anytime. Attend workshops and classes, utilize online tools, ask a successful writer to mentor you. You have endless resources at your fingertips. Practice what you’ve learned. You’ll improve in time.

If talent doesn’t appear obvious, build your skills and use them to excel in other ways. But don’t shortchange yourself. Talent often hides until a person is ready to shine.

Here’s the truth.

Most of us have tremendous talent. Continuing to write improves our skills. Our fears can stop us from moving forward or completing a project for our audience.

We can allow our ideas to flow every day. When we let go of our roadblocks, we open endless possibilities for creative growth.

Ideas are easy. It’s the execution of ideas that really separates the sheep from the goats.~Sue Grafton

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