Dash of Sass: If You’ve Been Looking for a Sign…This Is It

StartYou know the scariest part of starting to write a new book? (Or blog, or post, or speech, etc. etc.) That moment just before I actually begin. When I’m staring at a blank page that I have to fill with words and I feel absolutely terrified that I’m going to fill the page with the WRONG words, or that my brain is just going to stop working and I won’t have any words at all. But then I start typing. One letter after another after another. And then it becomes one word after another after another. Then one page after another after another. And then pages become chapters which become a book. All because I took a deep breath and typed one little letter. And that’s all you have to do today. Take one little step. Make one call. Send one email. Write the first sentence or draw the first line or paint the first stroke or sing the first note. Whatever your dream is…do SOMETHING. It doesn’t have to be big and monumental and earth shattering. You don’t have to win the Pulitzer or the Nobel Peace Prize or the Oscar or the Grammy TODAY. But START. BEGIN. LEAP. Or even tiptoe or crawl if you have to, but DO IT. Do it afraid. Do it imperfectly. Do it in your own timing. But START. My entire career changed a few years ago with one tweet. Of course I didn’t see the results of that one tweet and didn’t experience the career change until years later, but something in the atmosphere and in ME shifted on that one ordinary day with that one tweet. So whatever your “one thing” is, STOP WAITING. If you’ve been asking for a sign, this is it! Today is the day! START!!!!!

12 Responses to “ Dash of Sass: If You’ve Been Looking for a Sign…This Is It ”

  1. January 12, 2015

    Thank you!!!! I so needed to read this today!!! I need to take that one step…then one more. I can do this. 🙂

  2. Katrina Rucker
    January 12, 2015

    That is how I feel about acting. This is a sign for me. I do believe that this is it for me. I am a great actress, all thanks to the Almighty God, who gave me a callback last year, and now I am going to Florida to graduate. But I believe that my acting career is going to take off. So I need to be ready for anything. Just like you had to be ready for this. I’m also a writer, so I believe my writing career is also going to be blending with my acting career too. So thank you for allowing God to use you to give me and other single women out there this message.

  3. January 12, 2015

    That is what happened to me when I first started my blog about my journey of divorce and beyond. I felt God telling me to share my story and encourage other women who are going through the process especially women that were married for a very long time.. It was super scary and it hasn’t even been a year but it’s growing and I feel good about it. And you’re right Mandy, it just took me putting aside my fear and taking the plunge! And the best part because I did take the plunge it led me to your website and Twitter account ….God is good!

  4. phindile
    January 12, 2015

    Hi, I’m based in South Africa, where can I get your books?

    • Mandy Hale
      January 13, 2015

      They are at some Exclusives bookstores! They should also be able to order them for you 🙂

  5. Miriam
    January 13, 2015

    Aimeeen…

  6. January 13, 2015

    I totally agree! A few years ago I built up the courage to finally create an online blog myself, to share my reflections and faith filled revelations from God about love and random contemplations on life. Like you, I find that I am better able to reflect on the life lessons, after fleshing it all out and writing about it. I wanted to honor you for sharing your life lessons and for being an inspiration to many women out there, including myself! I hope to do the same with my writing, I don’t get many readers though since I am still a tad shy about actively broadcasting my blog out there. But this post of yours has inspired me! So thanks Mandy 🙂

    I have purchased your Vegas book on kindle btw and am loving it so far! Really can relate and have even plugged your book on one of my posts about “Happily ever afters” –> https://krystleacassar.wordpress.com/2014/12/20/once-upon-a-time/

  7. Kristina
    January 13, 2015

    Thank you so much, Mandy!
    You always find the right words which go straight into my heart and touch my soul.
    Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us and for giving us hope and inspiration.
    Sending much love and light to all my brave sisters who make their way, just like me, as single woman!

  8. mattie
    January 13, 2015

    oh ,my gosh Mandy .you have NO idea ,how that just knocked me off my feet .I have ppl telling me all the time that I am good with words and I need to start a “blog” but have been terrified ,what would I say .could I keep it going ? would ppl read it ?? etc… you know this all to well .not only about this ,but a “life” change .for a new job adventure .I am older than you and that alone scares the creeping crude out of me .I have done one thing my whole life and to do something else scares me ALOT !!!!!!!!! .any words of wisdom would be appricaited and takin to heart .thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone and taking the chance .we all are soooo glad that you did .

  9. January 13, 2015

    GIRL! I’m writing a book about my life story & let me tell you how nerve racking it is to put my past on display for the world to see… well I guess I don’t have to because you’ve been there, wrote that. HA! I’ve been studying marketing techniques, taking writers courses and everything for the past 6 months or so. That part was easy. But last night only hours after you wrote this I was staring at a blank screen on my lap top trying to figure out how in the world to get the thoughts out of my head & into logical sentences. Its intimidating and easily overwhelming… but you’re right, one letter at a time, one word at time.
    Strangely enough, My devotional today was about sexual purity. I wasn’t planning on addressing anything on that subject in my book, but the words just came pouring out. Not only did they pour but they came from a place I didn’t even know existed. It was like typing those first few paragraphs last night unlocked something inside of me that has been dormant for years. IT IS INCREDIBLE!

    Sorry to ramble… God is just doing some cool stuff. He never ceases to amaze.

  10. January 13, 2015

    Thanks for the inspiring post! Love you!

  11. MB
    January 14, 2015

    This is what I needed to hear, thank you! God bless xx

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Something wonderful is on the horizon
Life doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
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Something wonderful is on the horizon
Turn Toward the Sun CoverLife doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only