Labels are an interesting thing, the way they define us.

We seem to take them as fact. But ironically, they are just a description.

I’ve been in a writing slump, I’m ready to admit it. I told myself I’ve been busy, but really, I just didn’t want to write. What was there to write about? I didn’t feel like I had anything worthwhile to say.

It’s interesting how things come along just as I need them. I recently started following @blake_bookclub on Instagram. I’m always looking for good book recommendations. He recently shared a post about overthinking and recommended the book Soundtracks by Jon Acuff. I’d seen the book floating around and maybe remembered it because his last name was so similar to mine. But I didn’t give it more thought.

Okay, to be honest, I thought the cover was just a little weird, and whether we should judge a book by its cover or not, I definitely did.

But, I love recommendations!

And, it was available on Libby, so I could get it on my Kindle Paperwhite for free. I’m a sucker for free, even though I keep telling myself I should support authors.

So, it was a no-risk decision. Just my kind of choice, one I can take back and don’t have to commit to or feel guilty about if I regret it.

But here I go. If you overthink, the meaning gets in your head. Say mean things to yourself. Doubt yourself. Talk yourself out of things. You know, all the typical things you do if you are alive and breathing and human. PICK. THIS. BOOK. UP.

The cover is weird, am I right?

It doesn’t matter!

The writing is humorous, the subject matter well-researched, and the information applicable, right here, right now!

It’s not Groundbreaking

And I think Jon Acuff, from what I know about him from reading his book would agree.

Get control of your thoughts!

It’s not hard. Just kidding, getting control of your thoughts is really difficult, and Jon Acuff makes it pretty relatable to all that alive and humanness stuff.

I’m telling you, it’s worth a read.

Well, I started a few days ago and this morning I read the quote, “Writer’s Write” from Regina Brett. I’ve never heard of her, but now I’m intrigued to know more. What I do know is, that what she said and what Jon Acuff shared was what I needed to hear, and it was the exact same thing that James Clear shared in his book Atomic Habits that got me to be a little braver than I was hiding in a hole behind a bush, hoping no one would see me.

If you want to be something, if you want people to label you a certain way, then do what those people do. A healthy person acts healthy, that’s what you need to do. If you want to be a runner, start running. Whatever it is that you want to be, don’t think that people are going to start magically calling you the title you have always felt in your mind would be glorious. Start doing it!

So, here I am writing again because writers write.

And some days I want that title to magically appear above my head, or glow on my resume, but the reality is, I’ve got to back that desire up with action!

Figure out what you want to “be” and then start doing it. Bad and ugly and without knowing enough, just start!

Read here about me already figuring out pretty much everything Jon Acuff says, even though I’ve already forgot it again.