Have you read Ralph Fletcher’s “A Writer’s Notebook” by Ralph Fletcher? It’s a tiny book that bibliophiles like you can devour in a single afternoon.

The premise of the book is simple: every writer must have a notebook to record ideas, real-life observations, photos, doodles, or beautiful phrases/lines/passages of other authors. This book acts as a ‘creative swipe file’ for those times when you are lost, stuck, or just in a rut — and desperately need some inspiration.

Since reading his book, I have a shabby notebook of my own.

If I could hand-copy ALL your words in my notebook, I would, Jonas, because they are ALWAYS rich in emotions, imagery and intellectual depth.

“marinating in the excrement of your ego” — LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

As for fear, your words remind me of another book — “Smile for No Good Reason” by Dr. Lee Jampolsky. It is a collection of uplifting articles — each 1–2 pages long — that revolve around a single idea: LOVE conquers all.

I read one article every day or every other day just to ground myself. :D

Anyway, you are right: when I am sloshing around in negativity, I can NEVER find a silver lining. I really can’t. But I have realized that instead of fretting over my fears, I might as well befriend them and do something anyway.

Whenever my fears overpower my reality, I freeze. But when I say, “I hear ya, fear, but I gotta go this anyway” and ACT, it releases its choke-hold (happens RARELY to me, but it has happened— lol)

But your advice certainly helps when I am being dragged into the quicksand of negativity…and OCD thoughts.

…When my intrusive thoughts spiral out of control, they taint my peace of mind with their black blood…my head starts aching, my rib starts hurting, my entire body sags under the sizzle of negativity. During these horrifying moments, my mind is STUCK in a loop of UGLINESS…horrible, humiliating thoughts crash against my defenseless body and I break down into tears, trembles, and terrifying thoughts.

Once my tears stop and my body feels numb, I can’t do anything but give up on myself…but I apologize to the recipients of my mental negativity, and hope God blesses them.

I try to return into the arms of love after every trip to HELL!

Gosh — I am rambling! But you always make me think…and now that you have gotten my hands moving, I might as well finish that assignment which was due yesterday :P

Thanks Jonas #HUGS

Kitto

PS: I am also interested in another book titled: The Power of Negative Emotion (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1780746601?refRID=JPV2CR3DAT1GGMHS8C8Z&ref_=pd_rhf_se_p_img_13)