For the past year or so, I've struggled with finding time to both write and do cover art, and found that I was putting in far more time (voluntarily and otherwise) doing the artwork. Hence, I decided that what little spare time I had might be better spent focusing on the area that seemed to come more naturally to me: artwork.
With that in mind, I started systematically removing references to any books I still had out there (and am in the process of removing the last one, once the rights are reversed). At the same time, I started highlighting the digital design work more and more. I had taken a break from it entirely last summer because the day job was too overwhelming, but am now ready to get back in the ring.
I also started moving away from the "Kate" name on Facebook, Twitter, etc. because I'd always done the book covers for Cobblestone under the name of Rebecca K. Sterling. (Not that "Kate" is going to disappear entirely, mind you - she'll be back eventually, but with a different genre as well.)
So, if you start seeing posts under the names of RK Sterling or Rebecca Sterling, no need to wonder who the heck is that... :)
Meanwhile, my new website is up (more to add and tweak, but wanted to get something out there for now): http://www.sterlingdesignstudios.com/ It's a bit graphic intensive, so it may take a moment to load. I'm still figuring out how to handle that.
What news would you like to share?
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label encouragement. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Monday, October 01, 2012
Magical Mondays: The Power of Positive Visualization, Part 2
Well, I decided to not go into too much more detail about the last post and risk boring you. So, to cut a long story short: I did reach (and surpass) all those monetary goals that I kept in mind, one after the other.
First $9/hr, then $15/hr, then $64K/yr, and the one after $64k/yr -- $120K/yr -- is now within a few months of my reach should I continue to pursue it. In fact, I've already crossed that one off my list and moved the next goal into first place, even though technically, I'm not there yet. It's just that I KNOW I could if I wanted. All I have to do is switch from employee to consultant, which I might do next year.
Keeping goals firmly in mind -- and believing you'll reach them -- really works, folks.
Even for healing, as we can see from the placebo effect.
Placebo effect: Also called the placebo response. A remarkable phenomenon in which a placebo -- a fake treatment, an inactive substance like sugar, distilled water, or saline solution -- can sometimes improve a patient's condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful. Expectation to plays a potent role in the placebo effect. The more a person believes they are going to benefit from a treatment, the more likely it is that they will experience a benefit. (highlight and italics mine)
In 2006, I was at work and had sudden, bad chest pain. I went to the ER and they took some images. The first one, on 6/22, showed evidence of a compression fracture. I saw a specialist who looked at the images and agreed. He wanted me to wear a back brace, which I didn't really want to do. When I went to be fitted for the brace, the office I had to go to was closed and it would be a couple of weeks before I go again.
Over the next two weeks, every single day and several times a day, I strongly visualized my back healing and repeated over and over, "my back is completely healed." I believed it would work, and was already feeling better by the time I went back for the second set of images on 7/9.
Below are the results from my own medical record taken 17 days apart.
Of course, people could always come up with alternative explanations for what happened; however, I believed that my back was healthy, and it was. Yet, that's mild compared to what others have been through, and their sheer determination to overcome difficulties. Morris Goodman comes to mind, and I know there are many others out there as well.
Do you have any stories you'd like to share about the power of positive thinking in your life?
First $9/hr, then $15/hr, then $64K/yr, and the one after $64k/yr -- $120K/yr -- is now within a few months of my reach should I continue to pursue it. In fact, I've already crossed that one off my list and moved the next goal into first place, even though technically, I'm not there yet. It's just that I KNOW I could if I wanted. All I have to do is switch from employee to consultant, which I might do next year.
Keeping goals firmly in mind -- and believing you'll reach them -- really works, folks.
Even for healing, as we can see from the placebo effect.
Definition of Placebo effect
(from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=31481)_Placebo effect: Also called the placebo response. A remarkable phenomenon in which a placebo -- a fake treatment, an inactive substance like sugar, distilled water, or saline solution -- can sometimes improve a patient's condition simply because the person has the expectation that it will be helpful. Expectation to plays a potent role in the placebo effect. The more a person believes they are going to benefit from a treatment, the more likely it is that they will experience a benefit. (highlight and italics mine)
In 2006, I was at work and had sudden, bad chest pain. I went to the ER and they took some images. The first one, on 6/22, showed evidence of a compression fracture. I saw a specialist who looked at the images and agreed. He wanted me to wear a back brace, which I didn't really want to do. When I went to be fitted for the brace, the office I had to go to was closed and it would be a couple of weeks before I go again.
Over the next two weeks, every single day and several times a day, I strongly visualized my back healing and repeated over and over, "my back is completely healed." I believed it would work, and was already feeling better by the time I went back for the second set of images on 7/9.
Below are the results from my own medical record taken 17 days apart.
Do you have any stories you'd like to share about the power of positive thinking in your life?
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Magical Mondays on a Saturday: Napoleon Hill and Encouragement
The past few days I have been listening to recordings from a Napoleon Hill workshop that I found here: http://archive.org/details/Napoleon_Hill_Rare_Recordings.
What a blast! I love hearing his voice, and those in the audience when they called out the answers. Most importantly, it reaffirmed many beliefs by which I already live my life, formed by personal experience.
In short, that the power of positive belief, a willingness to go above and beyond what is asked of you, and the keeping of a constant, clear image of what you want (and always working toward it) will take you where you want to go.
Many people throughout history have written and spoken of these things, so the message is not new. In short, it boils down to faith backed by action. Imagination, determination, and work. Haven't all things created in this world been brought about by those things?
As I listened to the workshop, I was reminded of so many life experiences that I've had which illustrate the truth of his words, and have been sharing some of those with my daughter to encourage her. And over the next few days and weeks, I want to publicly share some of those experiences in the hope that they will encourage others as well. It has certainly been encouraging to me to reflect on them as I start moving in a new direction with my writing and life.
I'll post the first one on Monday (9/24/12), and hope you'll join in and be encouraged, too. :)
What a blast! I love hearing his voice, and those in the audience when they called out the answers. Most importantly, it reaffirmed many beliefs by which I already live my life, formed by personal experience.
In short, that the power of positive belief, a willingness to go above and beyond what is asked of you, and the keeping of a constant, clear image of what you want (and always working toward it) will take you where you want to go.
Many people throughout history have written and spoken of these things, so the message is not new. In short, it boils down to faith backed by action. Imagination, determination, and work. Haven't all things created in this world been brought about by those things?
As I listened to the workshop, I was reminded of so many life experiences that I've had which illustrate the truth of his words, and have been sharing some of those with my daughter to encourage her. And over the next few days and weeks, I want to publicly share some of those experiences in the hope that they will encourage others as well. It has certainly been encouraging to me to reflect on them as I start moving in a new direction with my writing and life.
I'll post the first one on Monday (9/24/12), and hope you'll join in and be encouraged, too. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)