33 | When Book Sales Hijack Your Joy: 4 Steps to Take Back Control

Are you letting Amazon measure your anointing? Is your joy tied to a royalty report?

Do you find yourself checking your KDP dashboard multiple times a day—and letting the numbers determine your confidence, peace, or even your calling?

In this raw and honest episode, I invite you into a heart-level conversation about the hidden emotional toll of tracking sales performance. If your mood rises and falls with your KDP stats, this is your wake-up call—and your encouragement.

We’ll explore why so many Christian writers unknowingly base their worth on what’s selling (or not), how pride can wear the mask of productivity, and why true freedom begins when we surrender the refresh button and embrace God's definition of success.

You'll leave with a practical mindset reset, biblical perspective, and a 4-step dashboard detox plan that will help you write from freedom—not for it.

Let’s break the cycle together.

Reddit post: reddit.com/r/selfpublish/comments/ror7k1/anyone_else_is_a_bit_weird_and_keep_refreshing/

Transcript

Friend, be honest.

Did you check your KDP dashboard before you even made coffee this morning?

How many times have you refreshed it today?

Once?

Three times?

More?

And when that number popped up, what did it do to your mood?

If it was up from yesterday, did you feel like, yes, I'm finally doing something right?

And if it was lower, did that quiet voice creep in again that said, maybe I'm not cut out for this. Maybe I'm wasting my time.

If that sounds like you today, then go ahead and turn up the volume. Because I've been there too.

Hand raised. I used to be a serial refresher.

KDP was practically my homepage. I'd hit that button hoping for a dopamine hit and let whatever number showed up shape how I felt for the rest of the day.

And as Christian authors, this gets especially tricky, right?

Because we want to serve God with our words. We want to impact lives,

but we also want to sell books, to pay the bills and grow a business, right?

And somewhere in between all that, our peace gets hijacked by a sales report.

So in today's episode, we're going to talk about it. Not just the compulsive habit, but the heart behind it.

By the end of our time together, you'll not only have a practical plan to break free from the check refresh crash cycle,

but a fresh vision for how to grow your writing life in a way that's healthy, faithful, and yes, profitable too.

So if your joy has been rising and falling with your KDP stats lately,

take a breath, grab your favorite beverage, and let's talk about it. This is episode 33.

I'm Urcelia Teixeira, ex real estate agent turned award winning Christian fiction author.

When I wrote my first novel on a bucket list whim, I had no idea it would spark a spiritual journey that would redefine my calling. But you know what, friend?

Self publishing wasn't easy. I got caught in the hustle, chasing rankings and sales while desperately trying to stay rooted in Christ.

Now, by God's grace, I'm building my author business his way. And now he's called me to help you do the same.

Welcome to the Anointed Scribe Podcast, where faith meets business for Christian writers. Let's write, publish, and grow our author business God's way. Are you ready? Well then, let's get started.

Hey, it's your author friend, Urcelia. And welcome to this week's episode of the Anointed Scribe PO Podcast.

I have a feeling this one's going to be powerful because I'M going to be honest and real with you today.

This is probably the area I've tripped up on the most and one I regularly have to repent of and break free from.

So if you're a regular listener, welcome back. I'm so grateful to have you in the Anointed Scribe tribe. And if you're tuning in for the first time,

a warm welcome to you too, friend.

This space is for faith driven writers who want to thrive in their calling without losing their soul in the process.

I'm really glad you're here and I pray you'll consider following the show to join us here each week. Okay, so let's get into today's topic, which,

as you might have already gathered, is all about our sales numbers and how this seemingly innocent facet of our business tends to steal our joy.

Now I will confess and say that I've fallen into this trap many, many times, and it's an area I have to really work on consistently.

Now, in my very weak defense,

I've been in sales for three decades now, since my early twenties,

so watching numbers and working toward targets is so deeply ingrained in me it's genuinely hard to let go of.

And I know I'm not the only Christian author battling with this.

Yes, it's a daily struggle and a daily surrender for me at this point in my walk with Christ.

Because frankly, it is all about the numbers in this industry, right?

When we're firing up new Facebook ads or launching a new book, it is vital to know your numbers. It's literally how we measure the success of our marketing campaigns.

But here's the question I've been pondering a lot recently.

Have we, as indie authors, become obsessed with it?

We are so focused on hitting our targets and selling more books that in many cases,

it has quietly become an idol in our lives.

I mean, picture yesterday morning you cracked open your laptop, barely took a breath, and clicked KDP right?

Wham. 20 extra sales overnight.

Suddenly you were humming worship songs and planning the new cover design. All before breakfast, right?

Fast forward to this morning. Only three sales. Your heart dropped faster than a bad book review.

You stared at the screen, thinking, should I finally just cave in and write a spicy romance instead?

Friend? Does any of this sound familiar?

A recent informal poll of indie authors on Reddit revealed that many compulsively check their KDP dashboards, and a significant portion say those numbers greatly impact their emotional well being.

Some even say it sends them into a depressive state.

Many admitted to avoiding logging in because it wrecks their day and yet most of those same authors believe God called them to write.

Can you see the tension here?

We are chasing two masters,

King Jesus and King Data and their thrones friend are miles apart.

Jesus was clear in Matthew 6:24 when he said,

no one can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money.

Now, while we may not be bowing to money outright,

the compulsive refresh habit subtly conditions us to do just that,

placing our hope in daily earnings rather than in God's promises.

See, this is where idolatry sneaks in.

When something created like a dashboard metric becomes the place we look to for identity security or validation,

it's not just a habit, it's a heart posture. And the longer we allow our peace to hinge on numbers,

the harder it becomes to hear God's voice over the refresh button.

That's the danger. Not the data itself,

but how deeply it roots into our affections.

When metrics become our master, we've dethroned Christ in that area of our lives.

And that's a serious spiritual battle with worth waging, with intentionality and grace.

So why do we keep hitting refresh?

Why do we let the numbers dictate our worth?

First, because publishing feels slow and unpredictable.

That flashing graph feels immediate. It feels like proof that something's happening, right? It gives us the illusion of control.

Second, the psychologists tell us that brain treats unpredictable rewards the slot machine effect as supercharged candy.

Each mystery royalty update gives us a dopamine hit. It's addictive.

And third,

well, let's just call it what it is. Let's talk about pride.

Now, before you start tuning out or bracing for a lecture, hear me out.

Pride isn't always chest thumping arrogance.

Sometimes it's that quiet panic.

If I don't sell today, who am I?

How am I going to pay the bills?

On good days, pride puffs us up, right? It says, look at me, I'm crushing it.

But on bad days,

pride tears us down and says, I must be failing.

Pride gives us this false sense of confidence.

These sales numbers give us the false sense of confidence that validates us as authors, right?

It's the same root, different masks.

And then there's impatience with God's timing.

We pray, lord, bless my book, bring me more sales. And then we expect Amazon to part like the Red Sea by Thursday.

And when it doesn't, we assume God missed the memo, right?

So let's pause and look at this from a different angle.

One that isn't rooted in striving or shame. One but in grace.

Let's reframe this with some biblical truth. So just stick with me here.

Think of this like taping some photos to the cork board in your office.

A few snapshots to remind you what's real when your feelings want to take the wheel. Okay, so here it is. Here's Moses,

reluctant, stuttering and leaning fully on God. And yet God still used him to part the seas.

There's a photo of David, anointed king,

yet stuck herding sheep in obscurity.

He waited years before that crown actually fit.

There's Mary of Bethany. She poured perfume worth over a year's salary on Jesus feet.

Everyone criticized her for wasting it, but Jesus said she'd be remembered forever.

And then there's Peter. O faithful Peter.

He failed spectacularly, denied Jesus three times,

yet became the loudest voice on Pentecost, ushering in the birth of the church.

Do you see the common thread here, friend?

Humility plus obedience equals multiplied impact.

They weren't passive. They just stopped measuring their worth by visible results.

God took it from there.

James 4:6 says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Now let's bring this down to where we live as authors, right?

Your KDP Dashboard is nothing other than a thermometer, not a report card.

Imagine stepping outside, seeing 8 degrees Celsius and deciding you're a bad human because it's chilly. Isn't that crazy? What a crazy thought.

Now, a thermometer reports the weather. It doesn't rate your character. Right?

Your KDP Dashboard does the same.

It reports the sales climate.

It never ever gets to comment on your identity as a writer, as a Christian, or an entrepreneur.

Yes, data matters. You still need to know which ads convert.

Stewardship is biblical.

But stewardship turns toxic when metrics mutate into mirrors.

So what do we do? Let's move from theory to some real world action. Steps.

So here's a four step coffee approved plan to help you reset your perspective.

Step number one,

the seven day dashboard. Fast.

Delete the KDP app from friend. Bury the bookmark.

Put a sticky note over your browser bar if you have to. The goal is to go one full week.

That's seven days, not Monday to Friday.

One full week without checking.

Why?

Because it breaks the dopamine loop. It gives your nervous system a mini Sabbath.

You need breathing room. And I can honestly attest to this working because I've done it countless times.

Try it and let me know how it goes.

Step number two,

schedule two stat windows per week.

Pick two specific times, say Monday and Thursday at 10am and then check your numbers, jot them into a spreadsheet, then log off.

No doom scrolling, no refreshing or rechecking two hours later.

Just check it once,

treat it like paying bills.

It's important,

but it's finite.

Now this creates healthy boundaries. And boundaries let you run your business and keep your peace.

Okay, step three the Gratitude Swap Each time you want to hit refresh, pause and thank God for one reader, just one.

Say Lord bless. I don't know Sarah in Ohio who stayed up till 2am reading my book.

Lord, thank you for Ben who shared my book with his small group.

Watch how fast gratitude drains anxiety, friend. You'll be amazed at what that does to your soul.

The Last Step Step 4 Find an accountability buddy. Now this could be another Christian author you trust.

Trade quick texts, not sales updates.

Heart wins.

Something as simple as finished chapter nine or got beautiful email from a reader or finally outlined my next devotional.

Focus on effort, Focus on impact. Focus on obedience.

Let God handle the outcomes.

And friend,

just know these steps aren't legalistic hoops.

They like training wheels, scaffolding to help you build a healthier mindset.

Until that margin becomes muscle memory, it's just like any training that you will do.

Now let's fast forward.

Close your eyes.

No. Well, unless you're driving, then don't.

But if you can close your eyes. Just close your eyes for a second and picture this.

You start the day in prayer.

You brainstorm that twisty cliffhanger or romantic scene.

You sip your coffee. You write.

Thursday rolls around.

You check kdp. See moderate sales,

maybe a little spike from last week's newsletter swap.

You jot the numbers down, thank God and log off. No spiral, no anxiety.

Just gratitude and peace.

The end of the month rolls around and guess what? Your income has actually grown because you channeled your energy into creation instead of compulsion.

And on the inevitable slow week instead of spiraling, you ask Lord, how do you want me to serve my readers right now?

Maybe you host a live Q and A. Maybe you send a heartfelt newsletter. Maybe you pray for someone going through cancer.

That's the freedom on the other side of scoreboard slavery, friend.

Your bottom line improves yet your soul stays intact.

So friend, here's your challenge.

Start the seven day dashboard fast today.

Let me know how many times you almost clicked then what you did. Instead,

pop over to the Anointed Scribe Facebook group or reply to my five minute manna newsletter. I'd love to cheer you on and pray for you.

So let's land this plane with a closing thought,

not a sermon.

Friend,

your royalty statement was never nailed to the cross.

You were,

you were loved long before Kindle ever existed.

Numbers can shout, but they can't define.

So go write from freedom. Not for freedom.

I'm rooting for you.

Refresh button and all.

Friend, before I let you go, I I want you to use the send me a message link in the show notes and let me know where you need God to show up for you today so I can pray for you.

It's 100% anonymous. I can't see your name or your email or your phone number. I can't even reply to you. But I can read your request and I can pray for you.

So I encourage you to use this feature to send me a private message to let me know what you are struggling with right now so we can come together and take this to the Lord in prayer.

And if you found today's episode helpful, please consider subscribing and leaving a review.

You know firsthand the impact this has on discovery. So please help me get this show into more listeners ears. I have a mission and I cannot do it without you.

Oh and if you want more tips outside of the show, sign up to my monthly 5 minute manna emails.

The link is in the show notes. Okay, so that's it for today's show.

Thank you for listening. And remember, for such a time as this,

you have been called to thrive as God's anointed scribe.