The other day, I was driving to the gym when I had this strong nudge to begin a blog about Heart check-ins—drawing inspiration from the “Heart-healing Sessions” my character Aida (a Heartspirit) does with Aaren Lockett, my main character from Heartsmith. (Read the book to learn more about this!)

What also prompted this idea came from a recent writers’ meeting I attended where someone asked me what inspired the “heart sessions” between Aaren and Aida in Heartsmith. I was open and honest and replied, “They were inspired by my EMDR sessions with my counselor.” If you’re unfamiliar with EMDR, it means: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It’s a psychotherapy technique used to treat PTSD and other mental health conditions. After I shared, several women came up to me asking for more information about EMDR and my counselor’s contact information. I realized in that moment how my honesty with my past trauma, and vulnerability with my writing process, could help others find their healing too.

That’s why I’m doing this. (And it’s one of the main reasons I wrote Heartsmith in the first place.)

Now, with that background covered, let’s begin today’s Heart Session!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve noticed many authors posting about a certain problem. It can be summed up in one word: BURNOUT. Marketing, promoting, and being on social media can be taxing, mentally draining, a time sink, and demands much of our attention and energy. Without proper boundaries, I think many of us fall into a downward spiral of self-doubt, anxiousness, restlessness, neglecting priorities, the comparison trap, feeling “less than,” and obsessing over numbers—sales, likes, shares, etc. 

You are not alone. This is clearly a common struggle. All of these pressures only feed a “monster” that can never be satisfied.

So, today, give yourself grace and permission to step back. Recharge. Say “no.” (This goes for everyone–not just authors!)

Find a quiet spot and ask yourself these questions: 

How is your heart today? Do you feel at peace? Is your heart content and radiating joy? Or do you feel anxious? Stressed? Fearful of a situation that seems outside of your control? Do you feel a constant pressure to produce and perform to the point your creativity and motivation to write or enjoy the things you love has suffered?

I can attest that I have struggled with all those things for the past year and a half. It reached its max last summer when the anxiety was so bad, I couldn’t find joy in writing or reading—they both felt like chores. In a word, I had reached BURNOUT. I started seeing my counselor again to help with the anxiety and to learn better boundaries with my “author life” and the monster I call “performing on social media.”

Don’t get me wrong, I love all the connections with my readers and fellow writers. It brings me much joy! But I can’t be “ON” 24/7.  Know what I mean?

Last July, I shared my struggles with my good friend, writing buddy, and developmental editor about my struggles and she gave me some wonderful feedback. She told me, “We aren’t meant to be “ON” all the time.” It isn’t healthy. We lose focus on what truly matters, and our emotional and mental health suffers. She then advised me to turn off all my notifications on Apps, which I did for some. And then when I recently did the Digital Detox with my church this past January, I turned off the notifications on the rest. Do you know what I experienced an abundance of? 

Peace. Joy. Focus. 

My husband noticed a big difference right away. He remarked that I laughed more, joked more, and was more present. I wasn’t checking my phone constantly. (I use the Aro App daily to keep track of my hours OFF my phone.) I wasn’t hammered by thoughts of needing to post, engage; post, engage! I read more, wrote more, finished my WIP (Heartwrecked), and established a faithful morning, quiet-time routine before I do anything else.

So, for this next week, I want you to think about one or two things you can do to have more peace, less stress, and, of course, REST. 

Create a list of tasks and tackle one thing today. Then do another task tomorrow. 

Read that book you’ve been putting off for months/years. 

Relax. Breathe. Turn off screens/devices and go for a walk. 

Invite that friend for coffee you’ve been meaning to call. 

If the mere thought of creating a post about your book or hobby causes anxiety, don’t post! If I don’t feel joy or excitement about something to post, I don’t post. It’s a habit I’m developing and giving myself grace with. And that’s the word I want to leave you with—GRACE. Your heart needs it.

Until next time, “attune to your Heartspirit.”

Grab your copy today and discover where the inspiration for “Heart Sessions” Saturday originated. May you enjoy the fun, steampunk adventure and find some heart healing along the way.