Iron Sun- a question of character, and such questions!

Character sketches

So I’m entering my third week with my book coach! I found her at the Mid-South Con, advertising her services, and I am so glad I found her!

This past week, she gave me sheets to work on the character development of my main character, Sun, who is 7 years old.

I had picked out 4 core beliefs, and every one of them, she said was too adult and advanced.

This is where my lack of knowledge of children becomes very apparent. Hence…a book coach!

Turns out, 7 year olds have logic, but it is flawed logic.

So we spent the hour talking about his development and what he believed and didn’t believe. We then came up with four core flawed beliefs:

1) Be Fair- don’t leave out the little ones

2) My family loves me

3) Family doesn’t change

4) Good always wins

Every single one of these core beliefs will be shattered in our little hero’s life.

What kind of core beliefs did you have growing up? Were they realistic? Unrealistic? or Fantastical?

Some of my core beliefs:

1) Jesus loves me

2) My Dad didn’t

3) I’m different

4) I have to do for myself

What are yours?

Rock-hard Friends

Friends

As I’m putting this take together about the main character, Sun, I’m thinking hard about his friends. What kind does he have? Are they fair-weather? Or set in stone diehards?

Friends are hard to come by these days, because the digital age has watered down the idea of friends to likes and social media interactions.

Many times, I read an article where the authors are stating that they have 5k followers, but they still feel isolated and alone. Not surprising. Followers are not a definition of friendship.

As a Bipolar man, I have few friends, but they are loyal and set in stone. They know me. They have weathered the madness with me. They care about me.

You have to find those for yourself, if you truly want to succeed in life. Don’t gravitate toward only people who will do for you if you do for them. That isn’t friendship, that’s commerce.

Friends call you and check on you. Sometimes they call you out. Sometimes they don’t care but they show up anyways. They don’t want anything from you, other than your company. They don’t manipulate. But they may tease….And you gotta deal with that.

If you can’t laugh at yourself, then you definitely won’t be able to handle the bigger pressures that are ahead on the road to success. So take the air out of your pride balloon. Pop it if you have to. Humility is required where we are going…

Be real…

Todd Doyle

There is no I in team, Mastermind your serenity

So, I was talking about my Serenity yesterday. That is, my ability to stay centered and calm.

I didn’t do out of sheer strength of will.

I did it with a team. A Mastermind team.

My Sifu, John Graham, taught me that no one gets to the top by themselves. You need a team to do that.

The same holds true for Serenity.

If you want to stay stable, once you reach that stage, you need a Mentor. Someone that you will listen to. That means you have to be willing to submit to their advice and wisdom. You have to be willing to accept that you don’t know everything (despite having the internet in our phones!). You need someone that is willing to get to know you in all your seasons of mania and depression. You have to listen to them when they say, “Hey, I think you need to slow down. You’re getting a little too revved up.” Then, you have to act on what they say.

Next, surround yourself with good friends who will stick with you through thick and thin. They might not always understand you, but they will stick with you when you think that not taking a bath for two weeks is somehow a good idea, and they aren’t shy about telling you to take one. Expose yourself to them on a daily basis. Don’t shut yourself off. Open up.

Lastly, learn to laugh. Humor is essential to getting better.

I know it isn’t fair. We didn’t get a vote on this. But we are stuck with this hand, and I’d rather listen to the lyrics of a George Carlin album than Pink Floyd’s The Wall any day. The Wall depressed me. Carlin made me laugh hysterically. Guess which one improved my outlook on life?

george carlin

Finally, make your peace with God. I don’t care how you accomplish that, but do it. Once you’ve done so, then try out what a relationship with Him looks like. You’ll be surprised.

Take it from someone who has reached Serenity.

This is possible.

I promise.

Until next time…

Be Real.

Todd Doyle