“Falling off the wagon,” or failing to maintain discipline, is inevitable. But it’s IN THAT VERY INSTANCE that character is built; once I fall, do I wallow in self-pity and apathy? Or do I find another angle/reassess/get ready for another round? I believe the rule of thumb should be: you get 5 minutes to beat yourself up after a mistake, then it’s back to work, figuring out how to make sure it doesn’t happen again. (And after the victories, don’t forget to take 5 minutes to pat yourself on the back).
But most important of all: enjoy the “falls,” the “victories…” Hell, enjoy the crazy trip we’ve made of our lives…and let’s lift each other up, shall we? I think with a little bit of thought, that’s revealed as the most enjoyable thing of all. 😉
Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha 
Very good advice!
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Thank You! 🙂
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I like your 5 min rule 🙂 I think I will have to use it myself.
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One of the best rules in life!
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Well said!
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Thank You! 🙂
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Reblogged this on mecella.
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It’s all in the attitude, glass half full and not glass half empty. Edison remarked that his success with the light bulb was one of thousands of failures. Attitude!
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Mindset, attitude, perspective is everything. You can wallow, but only you can give yourself the kick to get back at it again. No one else. I learn this everyday…especially in the mornings.
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Agree! Life tries to be gentle with us at first…but we will learn it in the end. The amount of pain we go through before doing it us up to us.
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Should be posted to several successful authors (Some characters’ ‘angst’ is so overpowering I’m surprised all the supporting characters don’t quit the damn book just to ‘get into the sunshine’)
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Well I can’t speak, hahaha! My character’s pretty angsty himself, but yes, at the end of the day, I firmly believe in a good ending. I think that’s how reality works, actually, ignorance, then pain, then happiness. Stories that are miserable at the end I feel aren’t just depressing, they’re untrue.
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True, and full of so many clichés.
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I don’t you should have the 5 min rule. I think moving on instead of beating yourself up over something is the best thing to. To accept it and learn from it.
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I agree Jessica, but some of us need a few minutes of beating ourselves up; it’s in our nature! Hahaha!
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How about ten mins?
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six? 😉
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That sounds like a very good rule.
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Thank You! 🙂
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