When I was driving to the hospital to have my first baby, I remember thinking, How bad could it be to give birth? I bet it’s not as hard as everyone says it is.
I was wrong.
I’m afraid I have a bad habit of underestimating how much time and effort a project will take–and I’m no different with books than I am with babies.
I feel badly about that because I’ve been saying for a long time now that my weight loss Bible study is “Coming soon!” and it’s still not coming!
Being the people-pleasing person that I am, I feel compelled to tell you why. First, it took a lot longer to write than I thought (a theme in my life).
And second, I realized the Bible study is dependent on the I Deserve a Donut questions and Bible verses, and I only have those available in an iPhone app format.
I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat)
So I stopped working on the Bible study a couple of months ago and started working on getting the questions and Bible verses out in a form everyone could use.
That project–a paperback book called I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat)—is almost complete. Seriously. I should be getting a sample copy in a couple of weeks. So as long as there are no major glitches, I really will have a book “coming soon”–just the wrong book!
I apologize to those of you who were looking forward to seeing the weight loss Bible study sooner. I also wish it were ready now as all this book business is making feel like emotional eating–I need a weight loss Bible study!
I’m shooting for the end of the year to get the Bible study out. That estimate will help me sleep at night and be less stressed out. And you know me–I’m all about breaking free from those negative emotions.
If you’re interested in either the 30 Day Weight Loss Bible study or the I Deserve a Donut book, click here for more info. (Update: They are both now published. Click here for more info.”
Image courtesy of Feelart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Update: I wasn’t planning to post this until I had a publish date for the book, but didn’t realize I had it scheduled for today! If you receive this post by email, I have a set of worry questions that also posted today that didn’t go out on email.
Good for you! A milestone! That’s exciting! I’ll be getting your books and supporting you one hundred percent! We have the power of our Father on our side, we just need to tune into Him… and that includes me…
Thanks, Floyd. I appreciate that! Thanks for your words of encouragement!
WOOT!
Haha, thanks, Heidi. :) I think you were the one that first suggested I put these in a book. Should have listened to you a long time ago!
I dunno if I deserve that credit or not, but I am TOTALLY jazzed that I will now have something that my non-apple clients can refer to when I say “Look at the Justification Questions!” LOL! (Or whatever else!) I will be first in line to by a hard copy, too. :-D
Me, too. And you will definitely not have to buy a copy – I will send you one. :) You have helped me so much in a million different ways–encouraged me to keep going, been enthusiastic about the questions, shared them on your blog and with your clients, and just been a good friend in general. I appreciate you more than I can say. :)
You know I feel the same! :-) Thanks so much!
I love your transparency
Thanks, Karen. :)
I’m so happy to hear this! :o)
Thanks, Elizabeth. I am, too. :) Happy to finally complete a project!
Thank you for sharing your struggle about being divided between projects. I am having a similar struggle. I have several ideas and want to work on them all, but I know I need to pick one and focus all-out on that in order to be ably to give myself fully to that and then another afterward. Good to know I’m not alone in this, and am inspired to focus in on one project in order to be able to get to the others.
Kari, I’m finding that it is so much easier to focus on one project at a time and carry it to completion. It’s definitely the key for me to be able to finish things, plus it’s so much less stressful. Whenever I try to do two, I get overwhelmed because I feel like I have to get them both done right away. I would definitely encourage you to give it a try.
I used to be really good @ focusing on a project to completion but have gotten out of the habit for a variety of reasons. Need to pull out some of those old habits again and combine them with new ones. Kids start school tomorrow, so it’s the perfect opportunity to roll out some structure of my own. Thanks for confirming a direction I needed to take. Feel free to hold me accountable.
I’ll ask how you’re doing – I know you’re a lot more on the ball than I am. :) You’ll be able to get a lot done with school starting. Will look forward to seeing what project you decide to work on!
Haven’t felt on the ball lately, unfortunately. Looking forward to structure! Actually, I have decided the project. Just been dabbling so far though. Need to dive in.
Have you ever used Evernote, Kari? I used that to make a project list of all the steps it would take to get the book finished. Also put little boxes for each step so I could check it off as I went – it was very helpful and motivating.
I do use Evernote, though not to its fullest extent. I’m actually a big list maker and pretty organized. My biggest struggle is one of value. I wonder if it’s worth the effort, if others will benefit from the project. Yet, I feel compelled to do it regardless. God is increasing my faith through this, so it’s for Him. If no one else reads it, then I need to be okay with that.
Oh, I see what you mean – I’ve struggled with that, too. In fact I wrote up a set of questions to deal with that issue in my own life. They’re the reward questions on this link: https://barbraveling.com/2013/07/31/how-to-make-yourself-have-a-quiet-time-orrenew-your-mind/
I tweaked them for this post so they could be used for people trying to develop a renewing of the mind habit, but I originally wrote them for myself to develop a writing habit.
Thanks for the resource, Barb!
what, having a baby is not easy??! :)
Funny how we don’t “get” some of these things until we are (inconveniently) about done with the project and suddenly notice the many missing parts! :)
I am currently pushing through a marriage book, i’ve had plenty of other interesting projects jump up. But working hard to keep focus and schedule everything else!
Looking forward to reading your book.
I’m also looking forward to your book, Ngina. I love the wisdom and perspective you give to marriage, plus I really think it will be nice to have another Christian book on marriage out there written by a woman.
Haha, and yes, it IS hard to have a baby. Shocking! :)
Barb, I can’t wait to read your book. I know it is going to be inspiring and empowering. Keep pushing through the pain.
Thanks, Bernard. I appreciate the encouragement!
Am in good company….can’t wait for the book to be out!
Thanks for stopping by, Lawrence. And thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it!
You welcome Barb…actually, you are the one encouraging me. Thanks for accepting the ‘call’ to write am book.
Thank you for the update:) Looking forward to your book coming out. I’d love to promote it.
Thanks, Dan. I would also love to promote yours – in fact, I’m going to be watching to see how you do your own promotion, so I know how to do mine!
Thank you:) I’ll share with you what works and what does not.