PbyCj

I would love to be perfect, but that’s just not reality.

Mindset Shift: Seeing Beyond the Natural

Lately, I’ve realized that I had been operating with the wrong mindset—focusing too much on limitations rather than possibilities. Every day can feel like an uphill battle, and it’s so easy to fixate on the struggles, the circumstances, and the challenges of life. But that’s just life.

I have a choice: I can focus on the natural—what I see, what I feel, what I can logically process—or I can focus on the life that Jesus died for. The abundant life. The enemy’s goal is to rob, steal, and destroy, but Jesus came so that I could have life and have it more abundantly. And that’s the mindset shift I’m choosing to make.

Writing: Exploring My Process

Writing is such an interesting process, and I’m learning that I use multiple methods to get words on paper (or a screen). There’s writing by hand, which feels different from typing on my laptop, iPad, or phone. Then there’s the verbal method, where I speak my thoughts and let technology transcribe them. I’ve used them all, and I’ve noticed that my voice shifts slightly depending on the method.

For example, when I write by hand, my words flow differently than when I type. And when I speak, everything has to come out in one session—I don’t get to go back and edit my spoken words in real time. It’s fascinating, and I’m curious about experimenting more with combining different writing methods.

Right now, my go-to is the Notes app. My last few blog posts have started there because it helps me return to my ideas later. But I want to see how things shift if I integrate all my writing styles into my process.

Thankful & Excited

I’m just excited. Like, genuinely excited. And I’m thankful to even feel this way.

I’m thankful for the joy of the Lord, for the peace of God, and for experiencing His goodness in every area of my life. Sometimes, excitement and joy can feel distant when things aren’t going how I want them to, but I’m in a season where I can acknowledge God’s goodness, and that’s something I don’t take lightly.

Peaceful Sleep: A Rare Moment

Last night, I had the best sleep I’ve had in a while. And it didn’t even happen in my bed.

Funny enough, I rarely sleep in my actual bed because I have to climb up to get into it, and I don’t always feel like doing that. Instead, I fell asleep at my desk—completely knocked out. I don’t think I’ve ever done that before, at least not in that chair. There’s another chair where I’ve dozed off, but this time, I was out. When I woke up, I was confused for a second, like, Yo, what just happened?

Then, I moved to the floor and fell asleep again. And it was the most refreshing sleep I’ve had in a while. I can only credit it to God’s Word because I’m in a season of learning. And not just learning in general, but learning what works for me.

Back to Writing: Finding My Flow

That’s something I wish I had known earlier—I have to find what works for me.

I’ve tried sitting at my desk to write, but I’ve realized that’s not my flow. If I try to write at home, I’ll probably end up asleep (which happened last night). So I need to go somewhere else, a different environment where I can focus and get words down without dozing off.

Trying New Things: A Writing Spot That Works

For a while, I’ve been writing at Starbucks (aka “Bucks”), but there’s a problem—I always end up going when I need to eat dinner, and the food options there are limited. So I’d end up compensating with caffeine, which is not a good move for me.

The other night, I made a mistake. I usually only have one coffee or energy drink a day, never more than that. But on this particular night, I had coffee late in the day after already having caffeine earlier. And let me tell you—it wrecked me. Not just for that night, but for days. I was disoriented, jittery, and thrown completely off track. And to make it worse, I hadn’t even eaten a real meal, so my body was all out of whack.

Lessons Learned: A Better Writing Routine

I’m on a deadline. I have to write.

So last night, I tried something different—I went to a spot where I could write and get real food. And it worked. I ate, got my writing done, and left feeling accomplished. The place was loud, but I had my noise-canceling headphones, so that didn’t bother me.

It felt like a scene from a movie—me sitting at a table for one, my Bible and notebook in front of me, a strawberry lemonade on the side, and the spotlight shining right on my table. I was in my zone.

The only downside? The place closed at 10 PM, which felt too early for my liking. But I made it work. By the time I got home, I was done. And the best part? I didn’t even struggle to fall asleep—I knocked out immediately.

The Formula: Finding Consistency

Now, I’m trying to figure out where I’ll write tonight because I need a consistent spot (or a couple of them).

I love that I was able to write in public, sit there with my Bible, and just enjoy the moment. I want to keep that momentum going because the enemy is always after joy, success, and progress. But I’m not letting him steal mine.

Editing & Indie Author Life

I’m also thinking about re-subscribing to an editing tool. I tried one a few years ago that helped me identify repetitive phrasing and other areas that needed work. As an indie author, I need something to help me refine my writing. I don’t feel like using Grammarly, but I might check out ProWritingAid again.

Final Thoughts: Enjoy Life

At the end of the day, I just want to encourage you, enjoy life.

God is good. He’s working in the background, even when things feel chaotic. So keep pushing forward, keep discovering what works for you, and most importantly, keep living the life that Jesus died for you to have.