By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
Writing can be emotionally challenging. You have probably experienced this yourself. As writers, we often feel frustrated when we cannot find the right words to express our thoughts and ideas, annoyed when we get stuck, lost when we are unsure where our ideas are leading, confused when we struggle to connect them, and disappointed when our work is rejected. The emotional challenges of writing can seem endless.
By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
Getting our writing done has a lot to do with how we respond to expectations. Here’s why.
As writers, we are constantly expected to meet different expectations. For example, we may be expected to write about a particular topic, publish in a certain journal, submit by a specific deadline, or complete a project in a certain format.
By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
About 40 percent of people in the United States make New Year’s resolutions. Are you one of them? I am. One of my resolutions for this year was to write 12 TAA blog posts. You might ask, “How many have you written so far?” Just one—the one you’re reading now. Between unexpected hardships, work commitments, and starting a graduate program in Happiness Studies, it was difficult to keep up with everything. As someone who loves to follow through my resolutions, I felt disappointed in myself for not staying committed to my goal.
By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
The other day, I considered setting a goal to help me write more. This made me reflect on my time as a graduate student, when I was especially productive with my writing. Besides completing course assignments and publishing academic articles, I wrote a book (“Running into Happiness”) while working on my dissertation. How did I manage to accomplish all that? Have you ever looked back at a success and wondered how you achieved it? If so, you’re already using a key principle for setting effective goals. Here’s why.
By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
Recently, a member of my writing group complimented me on my dedication to my writing goals. She said, “You’re so good at staying focused on the goals you set for yourself.”
“I think it has a lot to do with grit,” I responded. Let me explain.
Angela Duckworth (2016) defines grit as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals.” Based on her book Grit, here are some key actions to build grit:
By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD
Do you see yourself as a procrastinator? If so, you’re not alone; many people feel the same, myself included.
Recently, I found myself putting off writing an article I needed to complete. Although I enjoy writing, I tend to procrastinate when the topic is unfamiliar and requires effort and energy. I decided it was time to learn more about how to overcome this habit, and I want to share some insights I gained from Tal Ben-Shahar (2023) in one of his lectures on the subject.
