Happy I’ve never been one to follow algorithms (wouldn’t know how) and never used AI and have always rebelled against writing for the sake of a scheduled ‘should’ so when it comes to ‘slow’, by
others standards, that’s me righty at the tail end.
For me, that’s perfectly okay because I’m not competing with anyone.
Just living and becoming my own story at my own pace. 😊
That’s so powerful, Heléna! Love how you do all that. Totally agree with not competing with anyone else. Those have been long learning lessons for me, and I’m slowing getting there.
What’s something that you do that helps you stay in that mindset?
Reading and meditating on Bible principles, Kat. Who best to guide us than the one who created us?
“But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person.” (Galatians 6:4)
“I, Jehovah, am your God,
The One teaching you to benefit yourself,
The One guiding you in the way you should walk.
If only you would pay attention to my commandments!
Then your peace would become just like a river
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”
I'm making some very difficult decisions about travel, travel writing, and my career. I fell woefully behind on delivering articles because I was traveling. After the last three trips, I fell woefully sick and am struggling to recover.
Awwwww. Biggest hugs to you, Julie! Hope you’re feeling much better now. It’s never easy making big decisions, but I know you’ll figure out the next best move for you.
I’ve definitely noticed this myself with one door closing and stepping back out. It’s giving me the opportunity to notice and explore what else is possible or how things can be done is other ways.
You are endlessly talented with a plethora of experience, Julie. Excited to hear what’ll be next for you! You got this!!
It's so awful how external validation and measurement have become the norm, with the expectation that they're what we all want. Good on you for pulling yourself out of it. Doing something simply because you want to and it feels like the best thing to do can never be underrated!
Totally hear you and thanks, Kate! Sometimes these are lessons we need to learn before we find our own way.
I know, right?! Isn’t it odd that simply doing what we enjoy is a novelty or seen as an indulgence?! I so appreciate that simple joy. Cheers to doing more of them!!
Kat, thanks for the shoutout! :D To be clear, the fiction writing craft section is separate from the LGBTQ+, psychology, and cultural commentary essays. (I often use queer examples for the fiction writing essays, but they're still different sections, haha.)
Yeah I find that doing something "consistently and regularly", is especially hard if you have ADHD, which I do. It doesn't mean it's impossible for us ADHDers to succeed and make a living. But insisting that we must post every day/ every week, engage with others every day, is a surefire route to burnout. Even many newsletters writers who used to send emails daily, got burned out and now send emails occasionally only. (And Todd simply stopped completely.)
A popular blogger friend blogged twice a week for many years, while working on her novels at the same time. But she developed multiple severe health issues, needing many surgeries. Now she only posts on rare occasions.
There really needs to be a better way to find clients for business owners. All this daily/ weekly hustle stuff, is so unsustainable for many (maybe most) of us. I can't even publish monthly now, and I stopped posting on socials completely because I lost interest lol. My business (therapy) doesn't even depend on blog posts or social media posts anyway, so it was like a hobby. (I also lost interest in book coaching, especially since it was too much to build 2 businesses at once!)
Please forgive me and thanks for clearing that up. (Let me know how you’d like me to phrase that better and I’ll happily edit your blurb so it’s accurate!)
Lol, I don’t have ADHD and that “consistently and regularly” still tires and burns me out. I think certain personalities can handle that better or people rely on tech (or personnel) to make that seem possible. (Oh, good to know that Todd stopped, too!)
Oh, no. It’s definitely the worst when misalignment turns into health problems. Hope she’s doing much better now.
Biggest hugs, Sieran! I’m right there with you. Reeling back in my time and energy on what matters more, especially what’s more sustainable in the long run.
We can have many numerous interests and they don’t have to all turn into businesses. I agree there has to be a better way! Hoping to find what that is for me!! And hope you find yours, too.
So appreciate your long, thoughtful comments, Sieran. So good to hear from you!
Yes yes and YES! Thanks for the shoutout. I also had to recalibrate and curate my interactions on this platform. Every time I return to writing purely for the joy it brings, feeds my soul.
Of course and cheers to doing more things that feed our soul, Michelle! Recalibration is so important as we continue to evolve ourselves and our business.
It might be such a simple gauge, but joy is really what makes doing what we do more enjoyable and sustainable. Compromising on that long term never does us any good.
So agree with this kat and glad you're putting those boundaries in that so many of us resonate with. I'm inspired by these for my next Substack phase whilst i step back and adjust things. Yay!
Thanks, Sabrina! We mirror each other in so many ways, especially on this solopreneur journey building a sustainable business that we love and thrive from.
Your next Substack phase will be so rewarding and much more in alignment with you. You have so much wisdom to share and excited to see what comes from it!
I really appreciate your honesty and transparency. Honestly it's inspiring. You're choosing your life the way you want to live it and that extends to social media. I think that's so incredibly powerful and I'd like to claim a little slice of that for myself, you know? LOL.
I totally get those constant commenting containers. I've stopped doing those, but sometimes I get drawn back in. And I notice how that feels, and it's not great. Will I sometimes do it anyway? Yeah. I'm human and really just want to "succeed."
Awwww, Sam!! Thanks so much for saying that and I’m glad my post landed that way and that it’s inspiring you. Cheers to claiming more and more of that for yourself.
It can feel like you’re going against the norm, but I find that it’s so important to do if I truly want to build something sustainable for me, especially having it work well with motherhood.
I’ve had my fair share of those containers. It’s great for meeting new people (like you!), but I do get burned out from them after a while.
Oh, Sam. You will succeed on your own terms! I believe in you. Your writing is so beautiful and evokes such warm and soothing sentiments. You’ll find out what truly feels right and it’ll get easier from there.
The containers are great for meeting awesome people, like yourself. I will agree. Honestly too much of anything will get me burned out. Like the saying goes there can be too much of a good thing.
I appreciate you cheering me on so much. Your words landed in my body today. I needed them so much. I'm grateful for you and your sharing. Wishing you so much love, abundance, and success. On your own terms. For both of us!
Hey Kat, I noticed that you went AWOL but I honestly was too caught up with my stuff that I didn't want to make time for anything but personal matters.
I read your post and I want you to know that I went through the same experience and I perfectly understand what you mean because I've been there.
I, too, was fed up with this bro marketing that leads to industrial writing rather than something authentic and genuine. I want to reassure you that Substack does not have an algorithm such as the other platforms, at least to date, which is definitely refreshing.
I agree with your decisions and I want you to know that I still consider you as a friend, so even if we live far from each other I will be there for you if you need someone to talk to.
Happy I’ve never been one to follow algorithms (wouldn’t know how) and never used AI and have always rebelled against writing for the sake of a scheduled ‘should’ so when it comes to ‘slow’, by
others standards, that’s me righty at the tail end.
For me, that’s perfectly okay because I’m not competing with anyone.
Just living and becoming my own story at my own pace. 😊
That’s so powerful, Heléna! Love how you do all that. Totally agree with not competing with anyone else. Those have been long learning lessons for me, and I’m slowing getting there.
What’s something that you do that helps you stay in that mindset?
Reading and meditating on Bible principles, Kat. Who best to guide us than the one who created us?
“But let each one examine his own actions, and then he will have cause for rejoicing in regard to himself alone, and not in comparison with the other person.” (Galatians 6:4)
“I, Jehovah, am your God,
The One teaching you to benefit yourself,
The One guiding you in the way you should walk.
If only you would pay attention to my commandments!
Then your peace would become just like a river
And your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”
Isaiah 48:17,18
We are always in some state of transition lol
Thanks for the nod! It’s great to hv you back
So agree, Maria! That is what I keep learning! Of course, so good to see you here still. Thanks and biggest hugs to you 🤗
I am in transition, too, Kat. This year will see some changes, which I will start sharing this summer. All in good time.
Ohhh! How exciting, Julie! Looking forward to finding out what it is over the summer… unless you can reveal a little bit now. 😉
Agreed. All in good time! We’re all on time, never behind… no matter how that might seem.
I'm making some very difficult decisions about travel, travel writing, and my career. I fell woefully behind on delivering articles because I was traveling. After the last three trips, I fell woefully sick and am struggling to recover.
This Ageless Adventurer is feeling her age, LOL!
Awwwww. Biggest hugs to you, Julie! Hope you’re feeling much better now. It’s never easy making big decisions, but I know you’ll figure out the next best move for you.
I’ve definitely noticed this myself with one door closing and stepping back out. It’s giving me the opportunity to notice and explore what else is possible or how things can be done is other ways.
You are endlessly talented with a plethora of experience, Julie. Excited to hear what’ll be next for you! You got this!!
You are allowed to rest, reset and return
It's so awful how external validation and measurement have become the norm, with the expectation that they're what we all want. Good on you for pulling yourself out of it. Doing something simply because you want to and it feels like the best thing to do can never be underrated!
Totally hear you and thanks, Kate! Sometimes these are lessons we need to learn before we find our own way.
I know, right?! Isn’t it odd that simply doing what we enjoy is a novelty or seen as an indulgence?! I so appreciate that simple joy. Cheers to doing more of them!!
Kat, thanks for the shoutout! :D To be clear, the fiction writing craft section is separate from the LGBTQ+, psychology, and cultural commentary essays. (I often use queer examples for the fiction writing essays, but they're still different sections, haha.)
Yeah I find that doing something "consistently and regularly", is especially hard if you have ADHD, which I do. It doesn't mean it's impossible for us ADHDers to succeed and make a living. But insisting that we must post every day/ every week, engage with others every day, is a surefire route to burnout. Even many newsletters writers who used to send emails daily, got burned out and now send emails occasionally only. (And Todd simply stopped completely.)
A popular blogger friend blogged twice a week for many years, while working on her novels at the same time. But she developed multiple severe health issues, needing many surgeries. Now she only posts on rare occasions.
There really needs to be a better way to find clients for business owners. All this daily/ weekly hustle stuff, is so unsustainable for many (maybe most) of us. I can't even publish monthly now, and I stopped posting on socials completely because I lost interest lol. My business (therapy) doesn't even depend on blog posts or social media posts anyway, so it was like a hobby. (I also lost interest in book coaching, especially since it was too much to build 2 businesses at once!)
Please forgive me and thanks for clearing that up. (Let me know how you’d like me to phrase that better and I’ll happily edit your blurb so it’s accurate!)
Lol, I don’t have ADHD and that “consistently and regularly” still tires and burns me out. I think certain personalities can handle that better or people rely on tech (or personnel) to make that seem possible. (Oh, good to know that Todd stopped, too!)
Oh, no. It’s definitely the worst when misalignment turns into health problems. Hope she’s doing much better now.
Biggest hugs, Sieran! I’m right there with you. Reeling back in my time and energy on what matters more, especially what’s more sustainable in the long run.
We can have many numerous interests and they don’t have to all turn into businesses. I agree there has to be a better way! Hoping to find what that is for me!! And hope you find yours, too.
So appreciate your long, thoughtful comments, Sieran. So good to hear from you!
Out of noise - is my prefaired choice.
Yess, Romy. Now that I’m out of the noise, it really feels so much better.
What have you discovered for yourself when you step out of the noise?
Yes yes and YES! Thanks for the shoutout. I also had to recalibrate and curate my interactions on this platform. Every time I return to writing purely for the joy it brings, feeds my soul.
Of course and cheers to doing more things that feed our soul, Michelle! Recalibration is so important as we continue to evolve ourselves and our business.
It might be such a simple gauge, but joy is really what makes doing what we do more enjoyable and sustainable. Compromising on that long term never does us any good.
So agree with this kat and glad you're putting those boundaries in that so many of us resonate with. I'm inspired by these for my next Substack phase whilst i step back and adjust things. Yay!
Thanks, Sabrina! We mirror each other in so many ways, especially on this solopreneur journey building a sustainable business that we love and thrive from.
Your next Substack phase will be so rewarding and much more in alignment with you. You have so much wisdom to share and excited to see what comes from it!
I really appreciate your honesty and transparency. Honestly it's inspiring. You're choosing your life the way you want to live it and that extends to social media. I think that's so incredibly powerful and I'd like to claim a little slice of that for myself, you know? LOL.
I totally get those constant commenting containers. I've stopped doing those, but sometimes I get drawn back in. And I notice how that feels, and it's not great. Will I sometimes do it anyway? Yeah. I'm human and really just want to "succeed."
And thank you for the shout out. ❤️
Awwww, Sam!! Thanks so much for saying that and I’m glad my post landed that way and that it’s inspiring you. Cheers to claiming more and more of that for yourself.
It can feel like you’re going against the norm, but I find that it’s so important to do if I truly want to build something sustainable for me, especially having it work well with motherhood.
I’ve had my fair share of those containers. It’s great for meeting new people (like you!), but I do get burned out from them after a while.
Oh, Sam. You will succeed on your own terms! I believe in you. Your writing is so beautiful and evokes such warm and soothing sentiments. You’ll find out what truly feels right and it’ll get easier from there.
I’m cheering you on!!
The containers are great for meeting awesome people, like yourself. I will agree. Honestly too much of anything will get me burned out. Like the saying goes there can be too much of a good thing.
I appreciate you cheering me on so much. Your words landed in my body today. I needed them so much. I'm grateful for you and your sharing. Wishing you so much love, abundance, and success. On your own terms. For both of us!
Yay you are back!! And gonna be a mama and doing it on your own terms!!! Amazing!!!!
Thanks so much, Marni!! I’m sloowwwwwly making my way back.
And yes, I’m so excited to be a mom (finally)! It’s been something I’ve wanted for so long, and doing it on my own terms is honestly the only way!
Glad to see you are back! And a baby too! --Angela
Hey Kat, I noticed that you went AWOL but I honestly was too caught up with my stuff that I didn't want to make time for anything but personal matters.
I read your post and I want you to know that I went through the same experience and I perfectly understand what you mean because I've been there.
I, too, was fed up with this bro marketing that leads to industrial writing rather than something authentic and genuine. I want to reassure you that Substack does not have an algorithm such as the other platforms, at least to date, which is definitely refreshing.
I agree with your decisions and I want you to know that I still consider you as a friend, so even if we live far from each other I will be there for you if you need someone to talk to.