Jerusha: I’m delighted to welcome my good friend and fellow writer, DiAnn Mills, back to the FW Blog! DiAnn is giving away one print or digital copy (winner’s choice) of her new novel, Trace of Doubt, to one of you! So read on and enter the giveaway below!
By DiAnn Mills
New beginnings often sound exciting, thrilling, and filled with thoughts for the future.
We’re determined to find a better job, explore God, write a book, enroll in college, move to a new home, seek counseling, end or start a relationship, or fill in the blanks.
We have an incredible passion for the future. Until we start the process, and that’s when the fear and doubt surface.
- Maybe a change isn’t in order. I can continue in my current situation and not take any risks.
- What if my plan has holes, then what?
- Am I too old?
- Am I too young?
- Will my new beginning damage a relationship(s)?
- What if I fail?
All of the above are valid reasons to ensure our plan is the best step forward. We want to defeat those obstacles and leave regrets behind.
Understanding ourselves goes a long way in bursting through the wall of fear and leaving it in crumbles behind us.
An overcomer is someone who claws through adversity to accomplish or gain control of a difficulty. That person is a champion, noble, and courageous.
10 ways to overcome the fear of new beginnings
- Pray for wisdom, guidance, strength, and confidence.
- List the advantages and disadvantages of the new beginning.
- List the risks of doing nothing versus the risk of never trying.
- Understand why you have the fear, how your mind works, your personality, your behavior.
- Consult with those you trust for advice and those who have the necessary skills to steer you in the right direction.
- Create a lifeboat, a setting either mentally or physically where you can rest.
- Establish a plan and include scenarios of what might go wrong with solutions.
- Be prepared for temporary challenges. Mastering challenges is what grows us into strong people.
- Journal your progress. Include every step along the way. One day you might be able to help someone else struggling through their fears.
- Don’t get down on yourself. Prepare a treasure chest of positive affirmations. Read those when the going gets rough.
New beginnings usually are difficult, but without the struggle, the goal loses value.
How do you begin when the future seems blocked by fear? Please share!
Photos by Danielle McInnes, Simon Berger, and Abel Y Costa. Original graphics designed by Christen Krumm.
DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.
DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Retreats: Marketing, Speakers, Nonfiction and Novelist with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion for helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.
Connect with DiAnn at her website.
DiAnn is giving away one copy (print or digital — winner’s choice) of Trace of Doubt! Enter via the Rafflecopter below! (Giveaway ends September 27th, 2021. Due to shipping costs, we can only mail to a US mailing address.)
Trace of Doubt
Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.
Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she’s out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won’t be easy for an ex-con.
FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He’s always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account. So he’s going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.
But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It’s up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby—and the truth—forever.
Comments 89
Thanks, Jerusha for hosting me today!
Author
It’s my pleasure, DiAnn! Thanks for the encouraging post!
Thank you for these tips. I especially like the create a lifeboat one. Resting and getting quiet go a long way fir regaining clarity and peace. Thank you for the opportunity to win a book. Kind of you.
Thanks, Toni, so glad I could help!
This is such a timely post on so many levels! I love the idea of creating a “lifeboat” or a safe space. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Kristen, I love it when I can help another writer! Thank you!
Love your books…buy them all for our church library!
Anne, thanks for carrying my books in your church library!
This book looks good!
Karen, thanks for commenting!
Thanks for the tips! I am a teacher and there are many many hard days. But I always try to look at the good in each day. An “ah ha” moment a student has, a student opening up to me about something not math related, etc. Those are good moments.
Jessica, you are the type of teacher I’d want for my grandchildren.
Aw, thank you! It’s really sweet when I find out a student goes to my church or even better when they come up to me at church! Hoping to make an impact on them inside and outside of school.
Can’t wait to read as it sounds so good. Blessings
Awww, thanks so much!
Would love to win !! Thanks for the chance!!
Dixie, you are so welcome – but actually we need to thank Jerusha!
Thanks for these tips – so welcome as our life continues to change, whether we want it to or not….
Thank you, Betti!
I’ve been forced into a few new beginnings in the past few months. Thanks for the advice!
Erin, some new beginnings are not fun, but we can always learn from them.
Love to read Christian/clean suspense romance. Thanks for the good books to all the authors of this genre!
Thanks, Brenda! We authors appreciate readers!
Love reading your books. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Faith, I love readers!
Great tips for all of us. Can’t wait to read the book.
Thanks, Deana, and thanks for entering!
Thanks for the giveaway! 😊 Starting something new is always scary!
Maria, you are so right. I get excited about starting something new – then fear sets in.
Love the tips, and really , inspirational comments
Thank you, Yvonne! And thanks for entering the giveaway.
What great tips! Thanks!
Melissa, you are welcome and thanks for entering the giveaway.
What wonderful tips and you do it in an encouraging way.
Love the looks and sounds of book. Sounds so intriguing, suspenseful, mysterious and so much more. Would love to read & review the book in print format. Love book cover.
Thanks for a fantastic post and your kindness
Thanks, Crystal, email me privately about reviewing my books: diann@diannmills.com
This sounds like areally good book.
Thanks, Patricia, I loved writing it!
When I was a senior in high school I began keeping positive quotes in a miniature hope chest all of the girls were given by a local furniture company. [The guys also received a special gift but I don’t recall what it was.] Now I keep the quotes on one of my Pinterest boards but I still look through the miniature hope chest filled with my 3″ x 5″ cards of quotes written in different colored felt tip pens from time-to-time. Many of my favorite inspirational quotes are from Helen Keller.
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” ~Helen Keller
Ferne, what a beautiful idea. Inspirational quotes are such sweet reminders of the positive side of life.
Sounds intriguing. Enjoy your books.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks, Carol, I appreciate your entering the giveaway.
I always ask myself if I am afraid “what’s the worst that can happen?”
Oh, I love that! Thanks
The tips are great. ….I sometimes doesn’t change , so some of these I might implement to step out of my comfort zone. I love your books and this one sounds real good!!
Thanks Janet. It can be so hard to step out of our comfort zone.
I love your tips… I will try to implement some to try to get out of my comfort zone. I love your books and this one sounds real good.
Thanks, Janet! I appreciate your kind words.
Your book sounds like a good read. Thank you for the tips.
Hi Karen, thanks for entering the giveaway.
Thanks for the chance to win!
Hi Amelia, thanks for entering the giveaway.
thank you. love the cover
Thanks, Donna, I love the cover too! Wish I could take credit for it, but it’s all Tyndale Publishing.
Thanks for the encouraging post, DiAnn. The question, “What if I fail?” has been a constant companion of mine over the years. The follow-up question should always be, “But what if I succeed?” When we can picture what success looks like–that’s keeping our sights on the finish line. The worst thing is to do nothing.
Thanks, Betty, my mother used to say, “You don’t know until you try.”
I enjoyed reading your post, Thank you for encouraging us. Your book sounds like a great book and the cover is very intriguing . Have a great rest of the week and stay safe.
Alicia, thanks so much for your kind words.
Thank you for the tips! Great post!
Hi Natalya, thanks for entering the giveaway.
Thank you for the wonderful tips and your generosity in offering one of your beautiful books!
Thanks, Jan, and I appreciate your entering the giveaway.
Thank you for the giveaway!
Hi Connie, thanks for entering the giveaway.
Thank you for both the wonderful advice and the opportunity to win your book!
Thanks, Linda, I appreciate your kind words.
We all need to give and receive prayers!
Kate, prayer changes things – always has and always will.
Would love to get a print copy!
Thanks, Teresa!
sounds like a great book!
Thanks, Shelia. Trace of Doubt was fun to write.
Beautiful !!
Hi Teresa, thanks for entering the giveaway.
This book sounds like such a great book!
Thanks, Sarah!
Thank you so much for sharing!! I love the treasure chest idea…especially for a munchkin I know struggling with starting a new school. A great way to celebrate small victories & strengths!
I love to read Diann Mills books. Would love to win one!
Thanks, Susan. I appreciate your kind words.
sounds really great!
Thanks, Lori!
I just found your blog and I love it!
Oh, thank you, Lanya!
These are some very helpful tips. Thank you for sharing them! I’m going through some uncertainty with a job right now. This is a blessing.
Thanks, Rachel. Just said a prayer for your job.
This is such a great list of ways to help! I think I unknowingly do a lot of these when I face the unknown. Granted, I’m more of a dreamer than a risk-taker. One thing that usually helps me *actually* face the unknown is talking it over with some trusted, supportive people. Once I’ve spoken it out loud it’s harder to hide from it and those people encourage me to reach for it!
Jennifer, as a writer, I’m more of a dreamer too. Change can be a huge task!
Thanks for the tips DiAnn. I am a creature of habit so change is hard for me.
Hi Merry, I understand. Change is always difficult.
Such wonderful advice!