I love the band Needtobreathe. I could probably listen to their music all day long. But this post isn't about what a great sound they have, or their inspiring lyrics, or even their new album (which I just got on vinyl . . . swoon.*) It's about their philosophy on why they do what they do, because I think so many times in this knock-down-drag-out push for success we tend to forget what motivated us to create in the first place. I know I did.
The reason I didn't write books for several years wasn't because I had no ideas left inside my head. It wasn't because I didn't know how to put them on p aper, or where to send them when I was ready. It wasn't even because no one was interested in them. The reason I didn't write was because I lost the fire. I lost my purpose, and as an INFJ, without purpose there is no point. I just wanted to write a book exactly as it came to me instead of twisting it into something that the publishing world thought would sell.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying all this because my latest book, The Shaking, is doing poorly or not experiencing sales. It's actually doing really well, and if you're one of the people who bought it, you have my heartfelt thanks! If you've reviewed it, I'll send you my firstborn. (Fair warning: he's not an easy keeper.) I simply mean that if you're doing something you completely believe in with your whole heart and soul, it probably WILL do well because there's a difference between trying to give people what you think might sell the best and giving them something you believe down to your marrow. If you are doing what you love, it will show. The sales, the success, they'll follow. You won't have to push them ahead of you like a boulder.
Speaking about their new record, Rivers in the Wasteland, the Rineharts said, "It's about God putting rivers or something new in a dry desert that was a wasteland. You have to get to that point when you need it in order to appreciate it. That's what happened on this record. We had to reach the bottom to realize we needed to make that change."
I totally get that because I was in that place. I wandered through my own wasteland to reach where I am today doing what I love and putting it out there in the hopes that other people will see in it what I see. If this is where you're at, too, play the clip below for more thoughts from Needtobreathe about finding your purpose and keeping the main thing the main thing.
* Disclaimer: I haven't (sadly) received any compensation from Needtobreathe for my endorsement. Though if the guys wanted to reciprocate and buy my latest book, well, I'm not stopping them.
The reason I didn't write books for several years wasn't because I had no ideas left inside my head. It wasn't because I didn't know how to put them on p aper, or where to send them when I was ready. It wasn't even because no one was interested in them. The reason I didn't write was because I lost the fire. I lost my purpose, and as an INFJ, without purpose there is no point. I just wanted to write a book exactly as it came to me instead of twisting it into something that the publishing world thought would sell.
Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying all this because my latest book, The Shaking, is doing poorly or not experiencing sales. It's actually doing really well, and if you're one of the people who bought it, you have my heartfelt thanks! If you've reviewed it, I'll send you my firstborn. (Fair warning: he's not an easy keeper.) I simply mean that if you're doing something you completely believe in with your whole heart and soul, it probably WILL do well because there's a difference between trying to give people what you think might sell the best and giving them something you believe down to your marrow. If you are doing what you love, it will show. The sales, the success, they'll follow. You won't have to push them ahead of you like a boulder.
Speaking about their new record, Rivers in the Wasteland, the Rineharts said, "It's about God putting rivers or something new in a dry desert that was a wasteland. You have to get to that point when you need it in order to appreciate it. That's what happened on this record. We had to reach the bottom to realize we needed to make that change."
I totally get that because I was in that place. I wandered through my own wasteland to reach where I am today doing what I love and putting it out there in the hopes that other people will see in it what I see. If this is where you're at, too, play the clip below for more thoughts from Needtobreathe about finding your purpose and keeping the main thing the main thing.
* Disclaimer: I haven't (sadly) received any compensation from Needtobreathe for my endorsement. Though if the guys wanted to reciprocate and buy my latest book, well, I'm not stopping them.