3 Takeaways From Best-Selling Author Mike Dooley

I felt the energy in the auditorium shift as scattered and unfocused conversations hushed and hundreds of eyes focused on the speaker. I was a part of that crowd at a Hay House conference, listening to bestselling author Mike Dooley as he inspired an audience of mostly amateur writers.

Dooley is a former PriceWaterhouse-Coopers tax consultant turned entrepreneur. His inspirational books emphasize spiritual accountability.

I attended the conference out of sheer determination to reach my goal of writing a memoir to help young adults create a well-balanced relationship with themselves and the world around them. Being a young adult myself, I was surely one of the youngest people there.

Months before the conference, I was inspired by the speaker, Mike Dooley, an entrepreneur in the philosophical New Thought movement. He was the person I recognized as extremely connected to the intuitive aspect of writing. Every day I read his TUT (Notes from the Universe) daily e-mail. Today’s e-mail reads:

“Every compliment, criticism, promotion, setback, good vibe, cough or really long line you have to wait in is a gift that was meticulously designed to make possible your becoming more than who you were and, ultimately, happier than ever before, as we dance into forever.”

            We’ve only just begun, The Universe

The conference provided attendees numerous tips on writing. It gave me writing structure and enhanced my will-power. It also provided connections. A woman I met at the conference is now my accountability buddy. She and I talk each week about three actionable steps we are going to take for our books. The three most valuable tips I received from Dooley’s speech are:

1. “Immediately move towards building your own community.”

That’s Vague…Where do I even start!

I began with reaching out to friends closest to me to ask for help in building a community of like-minded people. You may find your community by searching online for helpful tools and community events. Overwhelmed and anxious at first, I picked two platforms to focus on: Facebook and Mail Chimp. Every day, I now write an inspiring message or guidance on Facebook. You might be thinking, Honey Bee, (that’s what friends call me) you are young and tech savvy! How do I do this if I’m not comfortable with social media? It’s a learning process.

But remember, the use of multimedia technology requires boundaries; if we are constantly connected, we miss out on the wondrous life happening all around us. In fact, I gave up an iPhone for a flip phone for about a year. I also take one day a week when I am not on social media, and I stop using electronic devices after 7pm (most days). When it comes to cutting back, slowly develop and build habits that are conducive to your personal values.

Furthermore, your community is surrounding you all the time. Go to a local coffee shop, your favorite yoga studio, join a Meet-Up group, volunteer, the options are limitless! Start slowly and make gradual changes to become known in your community. People are waiting for you to show up. Whether it is online or in person, your network is there, awaiting your arrival.

2. “GPS parallels all human creativity”

Dooley uses this qualitative equation to emphasize this highly valuable tip: End Result (destination) + action (movement) = How to arrive.

In life, we don’t know exactly what the journey will be to get to where we are going. By envisioning the outcome and taking action today, you will ultimately discover how to get to that destination. Do what you can with where you are right now. Our mind is not designed to know exactly what will come up along the journey. You get in the car, you press start (or turn a key), then you drive. On the road, the vision that life shows you gets easier. Manifestation of your book is possible in every moment of life. You are crossing the roads that will lead you to the destination.

If you don’t know what that destination is yet, that’s okay. When I first began to write, I had no intention of writing a book. In fact, I was in remedial English throughout my middle school and high school years! We can delete, copy, paste, and rewrite life to align with the creative flow. Trust your inner guidance.

3. “Know that you are already a channel of your higher consciousness.”

Dooley says, “You are a vehicle for your voice to shine. Whether this is your fifteenth book or your first . . . every word that goes on the page is coming from that vehicle of higher power. We can all access this power.” I access this voice through yoga and meditation. For others, it may be walks of exploration or blowing bubbles in a rocking chair. We all have our unique way that we connect with this power. We all have it within us. Yes, YOU!

Affirm: I am an open channel. I have the answers within.

Other lessons learned from Mike:  

We each have a story. That story is worthy.

There is doubt that appears between the lines of moments in life. Overcome it.

Are these the right words?

Where is my voice? Hello?

Is this really my truth?

For me, putting my words down on a page turned a wound into an emotionally vulnerable process, but it opened up the healing within.

When doubts emerge, keep writing. Even when you feel the impulse to get another tea or coffee, or light the third candle to set the “writing” mood. Unleash your creativity and be happy for every day you can show up to write. Some days, it comes easily. Other days, it may take a journal entry, a playful dance, or support talk from a friend to get past those mental barriers we subconsciously set up.

The doubt that often comes to mind for me is “I’m not good enough.”

Ha! Laugh about it. Believe in yourself. and keep on writing.