In Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker loses his powers. One minute he’s swinging from skyscraper to skyscraper, the next he’s flat on his back in some dirty alley. His webs won’t shoot, his eyes won’t focus, and the whole superhero gig seems out the window.
Ultimately, Peter’s powers return when MJ, his great love, is in danger. Even before, however, he tries various things: He deliberately renounces being Spiderman, attempts to win MJ back from another man, and tells his aunt the truth about his failure to save his uncle years earlier. Despite failing, these were acts of empowerment – made with the power Peter had at the time, aimed at growing his resolve.
After releasing my first book, I dove right into the next one. It was slow. I spent over a week on a single chapter. I redid the structure. Something felt off. Suddenly, two months were gone, and I was starting to drift, just like I had with book number one (which was written across a scattered three months out of twelve).
One day, I decided to start a daily blog. At first sight, it seemed like yet another distraction. Actually, it was the act of empowerment I needed. A grounding exercise to combat the limbo of book-writing, ensuring I show up, practice, and ship every day.
Take your power back first. Use the room and resources you have. Confidence can come in small doses. It could be a cup of coffee, a t-shirt with the right slogan, or a song. Sometimes, it’ll have to be slightly bigger – a new computer, a different job, or hanging up the mantle you loved to wear so much.
Mostly, it’s about changing the momentum: switching from passive to active, from reactive to focused, and from tiptoeing backwards to taking a step forward and looking ahead.
You might not return immediately in full force, but swing or no swing, at least you’ll be on your way.