There’s really nothing like shaping and molding your own mind, working systematically like a mad scientist would on his new creation. It’s fascinating, the power of the mind, and the sheer power a forming habit can have on you.

Just a few weeks ago, I couldn’t motivate myself to write or edit just a few words, let along over four thousand. And yet, today, I got a late start, got sidetracked, found myself a little unmotivated – even went to the lake this evening for a nice, peaceful paddle – and still ended up hitting all my writing targets.

I say this is all because of the power of habit. It doesn’t really take long, even though the popular belief is it takes 21 days to form a habit, and science says 30 to 60 days. But, I say, just getting started, just a few days into it, and I’m already experiencing the benefits.

Here it is, nearly 10:30PM, and I’m just now finishing up my writing for the day. It helps, of course, that there is absolutely nothing on tv tonight. I also believe I’ve gotten a much better perspective on what it would mean for my life and lifestyle if I were able to write for a living, rather than have a job. No boss. No employees. No coworkers. No schedule. No dress code. No commute. No direct public contact. And that’s just all of the negatives a writing career doesn’t have.

Do I have a voice? Do I have a knack for writing? Are my stories and books any good? Those questions are really up to my readers to answer. But they can’t come down one way or the other, if I don’t get the book out to them in the first place.

This is why I need the power of habit.

(I wrote 1100 words and edited 3287 words today)