Stop It!

I have two quotes I'd like to pass along.

"When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges or wanting to cause harm — please apply the following: Stop it!"  ~ Deiter F. Uchtdorf

"Don't judge me because 
I sin differently than you."  
~ Deiter F. Uchtdorf (referring to a bumper sticker)

While this advice was offered in an religious setting, I think the two quotes have broader appeal. 

Let me rephrase them for (mostly) myself and my writer friends.

Writers... when it comes to

• hating those who are more successful than you, 
• gossiping (whether true or not) about those who may have hurt you, 
• ignoring people who you think beneath you, 
• ridiculing those do not follow the "rules" like you do, 
• holding grudges against agents/reviewers who may have wronged you, 
• or wanting to cause social harm to anyone who doesn't worship you... 

Stop it!


Also... when it comes to

• hating yourself for not meeting expectations, 
• speaking negatively of your talents, 
• ignoring your needs, individuality and contributions, 
• ridiculing yourself for making mistakes, 
• holding a grudge for failing during any part of the process, 
• or wanting to cause harm to your self, books, platform or image because you feel overwhelmed and under appreciated... 

Stop it!


And finally, don't judge me because I write differently than you.

More important, don't judge yourself because you write differently than Successful Author #425. There is room for all of us.

Don't worry, I know. . .

I definitely need to take my own advice.

What quote(s) do you find helpful in life? In writing?