What's Next?

Have you ever felt as though you’re on the precipice of something “big”? Your intuition says it’s coming, but you have no idea what “it” is or when “it” will arrive?

I’ve had this sensation for several months. The current astrology supports this perception. It’s as though we’ve been asked to get ourselves in order so we can be prepared for what’s next. Fairly confident my “what’s next” relates to another book—the one I’ve been putting off since January—at least I know the topic. I’m just unsure how to write it.

But you’ve written five books. Yes, and all are fiction, dealing with relationships, self-discovery, and spiritual healing. I relied on my imagination to create characters and plots. Whether I took personal experiences and twisted them a bit or came up with totally new scenarios, my goal was to weave relatable tales with underlying messages. This style of writing feels natural. I know how to do it.

However, after several months vacillating back and forth as to if I wanted to write another book, and if so, what that might look like, I’ve realized something. Writing novels felt safe because I could hide my thoughts and feeling behind the characters. Readers don’t know if parts of the story are about me or a made-up person. Being an author of fiction allows me to interject my own experiences and views into my books without owning them.

But something’s changed, no doubt one of the reasons I’ve postponed this project. Whether due to age or becoming more comfortable in my own skin, I’m leaning away from writing another novel. Instead, I feel called to share my thoughts in a different way—a self-empowerment non-fiction.

Just admitting this causes my pulse to quicken. Using my own voice and putting my beliefs in print— hoping to inspire others—seems risky. How will readers respond? Will my words be believable? Or will I be judged as incompetent, unworthy?

Vulnerability. Clearly, that is what’s needed for me to take this next step. Because if I write the book I believe I’m meant to, I must put myself out there, not carefully cloaked behind make-believe characters.

While my mind resists this undertaking, my heart’s gently nudging me forward, urging me to trust and embrace the new lessons that will come with this project. No doubt these past months “not writing” had purpose. They have allowed time and space for life experiences and personal growth, both necessary for me to proceed with “what’s next.”

Have you felt a similar urge to move forward but hesitant to put yourself out there? Do you have a vision you’d like to share, but sense a push/pull as to whether it’s the right thing to do? If so, maybe you, too, need a pause to go within to create “what’s next” for you.

Ideas require time to percolate. Some things take longer than we anticipate. But once our “what’s next” is ready to emerge, it often surfaces with surprising ease and grace, making us wonder why we ever doubted ourselves. I hope that’s the case with this book. Sure, it would be safer to write another novel, but what if my “what’s next” is exactly what’s meant to be? Maybe the Universe has an entirely new curriculum for me to learn for my personal evolution. And unless I say “yes” and try, I’ll never know.