How to Apply Writer Stephen King's Powerful Secret for Success

Woman with outstretched arms at top of mountain

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By any measure the famous writer Stephen King is a hugely successful author. He's sold more than 350 million books and counting. Several of his novels were adapted for major movies, TV, and even comic books. 

But there was a time when Stephen King the author wasn't an author. What was the magic secret that propelled him to fame and fortune?

The Power of Words

Before we dive into that question allow me to remind you about the power of words, something Stephen King knows a thing or two about. Your words really do matter. Words you say in mind, also called self-talk, and words you say out loud are all affirmations. 

Every statement you make about yourself, to yourself, about other people, and about circumstances in your life are affirmations. Your subconscious mind is always listening so it’s vital to choose positive words that empower your health, wealth, relationships and emotional wellbeing. 

Your self-talk, the words you consistently say within your mind and out loud, and the words you say to others, all matter. Empowering self-talk motives you to achieve what you were put in this world to achieve and the words you speak and write can inspire others to do the same. 

Stephen King's Guiding Wisdom

In, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft", King tells us the belief that led to his success:

"You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will." 

What is King talking about? Goals: his goals; your goals; all goals.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

Does it really take bravery to start? For most of us most of the time it absolutely takes bravery to reach outside of our comfort zone. 

Why? Fear. Fear of failure and perhaps fear of success. 

Yes, we can be afraid of success. There are many reasons why fear of success can occur. We can be worried about what others in our circle of family and friends will say if we achieve a significant goal, particularly if that goal relates to money. We can be afraid somehow, "I'll change; I'll become someone else; Who am I to achieve this goal?". 

What about fear of failure? Disempowering thoughts can arise such as, "What if I fail? I'm afraid people will ridicule me, laugh at me, judge me, if I fail. I'm afraid I'll judge myself as a loser. And I will be a loser!". 

Some of our fear of failure will be conscious and some will be subconscious. When going for a stretch goal, it's important to recognize you may experience subconscious resistance. 

If the goal speaks to your heart, to your highest values, if it's a 9 or 10 on a zero to 10 scale of desire, move forward one tiny step at a time. Feel the fear and do it anyway. 

Powerful Affirmations for Success

Here are my affirmation suggestions for you to consider: 

I choose to create and see in mind daily powerful images of what it will look like, sound like, and feel like when I achieve this goal. 

I choose to achieve this goal in tiny steps if necessary even if I experience subconscious or conscious resistance as long as this goal continues to speak to my heart and my highest values. 

To harness the essence of King's guidance, consider this as your key affirmation:

I choose to affirm, I can, I should, and I am brave enough to start now and to finish.

You Can Achieve Your Chosen Goals

The secret is to start and keep moving in the direction of your chosen new reality. Frequently voiced and written affirmations and reminding yourself of your big "Why" you are choosing to achieve your goal can keep you motivated and energized as you move step by step to success.

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Stephen Carter is a FREA volunteer and CEO of Stress Solutions, LLC, a company dedicated to helping people enhance physical and emotional wellbeing through stress mastery using mind-body methods. He hosts the, "Positive Word Affirmations", "Easy Stress Cures", and "EFT Tapping Junction" podcasts. Steve can be reached by email at CarterMethod@gmail.com and through his website at https://www.EFT-MD.com.

Why We Ignore Stress and How to Ensure We Don't Using an Easy 3-Step Technique

Is it possible to go through your days in a state of numb chronic tension and not recognize you're about to get hit by the Stress Express Bullet Train? For virtually everyone, the answer is absolutely yes!

How can that be? Isn't stress something we notice, something we feel, something we are always aware of? The answer is - like so many areas of life - it depends on focus and habitual mind patterns.

The Good and Bad News: You Are Wired to Survive:

As a key part of evolution we are programmed to survive. One of the mechanisms that helps us do that is habituation, or habit.

Think of habituation as a form of learning. As a given stimulus is repeated, we're less and less likely to respond to or consciously notice the stimulus. 

The brain is on alert to notice what's new, novel, and threatening. As we get used to a given stimulus over time, we tend to pay little or no attention to "old news". We tune out old signals in favor of attending to new and potentially threatening situations.

Ignoring Chronic Stress Signals:

As we habituate to internal signals we at first may have recognized as stress alerts, our overall stress levels increase. The physical body may take on a chronic muscular tension. Blood pressure becomes chronically elevated. Emotionally, we are frequently on edge, short of patience and less considerate. Life seems to become more of a struggle, so we feel the need to push harder. And we do.

Soon, another round of stressful circumstances hits us. Yes, we may for a time recognize that we're "stressed", but the business of life takes our attention away from internal signals of stress. We habituate to yet higher levels of tension and dis-ease.

Sadly, this ever increasing stress spiral can continue for years. Our physical and emotional health will likely deteriorate and lead to acute medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke. We can become profoundly unhappy to the point that life seems far more a burden than a joy.

Apply the Stop - Look - Listen Technique:

Fortunately, we can harness the power of positive habituation to recognize and release stress in real time throughout each day. 

Choose to get into the habit of taking a one-minute stress break several times a day. At first you'll likely need to schedule these breaks in your daily calendar or set your email program to send reminders. You can also use sticky notes or other items as prompts until the Stop - Look - Listen habit becomes automatic. That will likely take about three to four weeks of daily practice. After that time, you will have created a new, habitual healthy pattern you can benefit from for the rest of your life.

The Three Easy Stop - Look - Listen Steps Are:

Step 1: STOP: Stop whatever you're doing when it's time to take the Stop - Look - Listen break. Notice any sensations, tightness, or uncomfortable feelings in your body. Touch those areas gently and say out loud or silently in mind, "Soften, soften and flow. It's only blocked energy, release and let it go." After a few seconds move your hands over your heart. As you place hands over your heart (right hand over left or left hand over right is fine) take three gentle, long, easy breaths as if breathing into and out of your heart.

Step 2: LOOK: Raise your head up or - even better - stand up and take a few steps. If a window is nearby, look outside. Soften your gaze and look off into the distance. Returning attention to the space nearby, if you have a photo of family, a loved one, or pet available, look at that photo. Really, really look at the photo and allow positive feelings of appreciation and gratitude to flow through you. Feel those feelings and smile. In the absence of photos, find something to look at that creates positive feelings. Flowers, a stuffed animal, a special award or a thousand other items can all work. Really feel the positive energy flow.

Step 3: LISTEN: Pay attention to your self-talk and notice if your self-talk is positive, helpful and upbeat or critical, judgmental, and energy depleting. Choose self-talk with phrases, and commentary that are upbeat and encouraging. Use phrases that include words such as, "can", "choose", "positive", "happy", and "success". Positive power words change our state and allow us to get onboard the Success Express train bound for Joyville, Abundance, and Peace.

There you have it. Three simple steps to help avoid getting hit by the Stress Express while ensuring you enjoy a first class seat on the Success Express for daily travel. 

Acute or serious chronic stress may require help from an appropriate professional. But choosing to take charge of your daily stress challenges with Stop - Look - Listen and other techniques described in posts on this site - and in other authoritative sources - offer wonderful ways to help assure stress mastery becomes a healthy habit everyday.

Your Suggestions:

How do you ensure you stay on top of stress in your day-to-day life? Please add your voice to the conversation in the comments section below.

If you would like to contact me privately, please email me at CarterMethod@gmail.com.

Stephen Carter

Stress Solutions, LLC
CarterMethod@gmail.com
www.EFT-MD.com | www.EasyStressCures.com
804-677-6772

Important Note: This and all other postings to this blog are for informational purposes only. This and all other posts are not intended to diagnose, treat, or otherwise recommend any treatment for any medical or psychological condition. Anyone using any of the information contained in this or any other posting on this website does so at his or her own risk. You are urged to seek competent medical consultations with appropriate licensed medical professionals for any and all medical or physical conditions.