Last year, on the Autumn Equinox, I launched my first book, ‘You’re Here for a Reason: The practical and spiritual guide to align with your purpose and awaken your career’. The 12 months which followed were entirely different to what I had intended. But I now realise it was exactly what I needed. I needed to recover. To mark the first anniversary of my book launch, I want to give you a little insight into my first year as an author. And inject some fresh energy into my life’s work!
Running out of steam
When I finally pressed ‘send’ on my manuscript last August, I had no real sense of what impact writing a book might have had on my physical and mental wellbeing (which happened to also coincide with a big house move). If anything, I had anticipated relief, excitement and a busy schedule of getting out into the world and promoting it. However, it’s only now, when I reflect on this past year, that I realise I have actually been in recovery.
Getting my book published felt like I had ‘birthed’ something into the world. Something which was no longer mine. I suffered a sort of postnatal depression. It was no longer this powerful force of creative, expansive energy washing through me, fuelling me and stimulating me. It was something else. And, as a result, I became disconnected from it.
It takes a huge amount of discipline and focus to publish a book. And then (as a self-published author) an even greater amount of discipline and focus to push it out into the marketplace. I had run out of steam. I needed to recover physically, mentally and emotionally. I stopped writing. I ran out of ideas for my blog and for my social media posts. I ceased sending out my newsletter.
Whilst it didn’t exactly feel good, it was in many ways an act of kindness to myself. Just as a field has to go fallow every so often so that it can regenerate, so did I.
Scratching an itch and finding contentment
Nonetheless, I have celebrated every single book sale which has come through. I have rejoiced at the stories of friends and old colleagues who have read it and finally realised what work they are meant to be doing during their time on this planet. And, perhaps more than anything, I have reached a new level of contentment having finally got to scratch the itch to write a book which I have had for so many years.
In many ways, this is sufficient reward in and of itself. To me, contentment is really the ultimate aim. And so, if I needed to spend 18 months of my working life in intense writing mode to get there, then it was 100% worth it. But deep down, I know that I am not yet done with my mission. It doesn’t end here. It is just the beginning.
Photography by Cassandra Lane
Re-energising my purpose
In the past few weeks, I have had a number of people spontaneously reach to me about the book and the impact it has had on them. This has stirred something in me. It has reawakened my mission and reconnected me with the reason I wrote the book in the first place.
I have also taken myself through an exercise which I use with all my clients – and one which always creates a shift for them. I have unearthed some quite shocking limiting beliefs which I have been holding around my book. One of my biggest realisations was that I had been judging it based on the reactions (or non-reactions) from people who aren’t actually my target audience. I have reaffirmed to myself that this is not a book for everyone. It was never meant to be. But then I have never had a book out in the world. This is my learning. (One of many).
Having done this work on my own limiting beliefs, I now feel liberated and ready to meet this next 12 months as an author with greater belief in what my book can do, a stronger connection to my mission and a higher vibration to attract the right readers.
I also realised (thanks to my business guru – aka my brother) that I have been operating in what he calls ‘analogue’ mode by only having it available in printed form. The world has moved on massively and I now recognise there are many people who prefer to learn through other ‘digital’ means.
And so, I now have a plan in place to re-energise my book and my purpose (and elevate my own vibration with it) which includes:
- Re-connecting with it – by reading a chapter each week (something I haven’t done since I poured over the pages in editing mode)
- Re-establishing my readership – repeating affirmations such as ‘my book is impacting the right people in the right time and right way for them’
- Redefining what success looks like – this goes beyond mere sales numbers and considers the true impact it is having and the way it is making my coaching work accessible to all
- Publishing it on Kindle – I have found a way through the technical issues which means ‘You’re Here For a Reason’ is now available as an eBook on Kindle
- Recording an audiobook version – I have found a studio in Manchester to begin this journey with and I plan to release it in the new year
An important question for you...
I want to end this article by saying how much joy it has brought me to be able to pursue this particular dream. I feel so blessed to have had the means with which to do it. And to have had the creative energy channelled through me. The recovery is all part of the journey. It hasn’t put me off writing another book. I would just allow for this ‘fallow’ period next time.
And, finally, it leads me to asking you an important question:
What itch do you have which you have been longing to scratch?
Hello, I'm Rebecca
Career Coach & Business Coach for people on a spiritual path
I support mid-career professionals who are ready to make a career change, launch into a more purpose-led career or business or simply enjoy a more fulfilling or balanced working life.
I believe that we all have a purpose here on earth and that life is too short to be stressed, unfulfilled and playing small.
