I’m
a perfectionist. In fact, I’ve been a
perfectionist for as long as I can remember.
As they say of things like this, it’s both a blessing and a curse. LOL If
you’re also a perfectionist, then you know that while it’s beneficial to be
meticulous, especially in the creative genre, you can also
drive yourself nuts with details to maintain the high standards you’ve set for
yourself. That’s why I’ve been absent
from my blog for more than six months. Well,
that and a nasty case of writer’s block and having to ride out a few “storms.” I’ve felt guilty about not posting, but it’s
time to let go of the guilt and move forward.
The
problem was that it seemed like each blog post was better than the last – and I
don’t take credit for that – as the majority of the words I’d written had been
channeled from the spiritual realm. I’d
read what I’d written and say to myself, “Where did that come from? That’s really good!” LOL After my last blog post in October, I
wasn’t getting anything that lent itself to a lengthy discourse. I didn’t know how I was going to top what I'd done or even equal it. I would get
little tidbits here and there, but when I’d try to elaborate, it wouldn’t go
anywhere. I was definitely not
channeling. LOL
I didn’t
want just a few paragraphs. I wanted at
least a page. I 'd set a standard for
myself, and I wasn’t about to deter from at least equaling what I'd done
previously, both in quantity and quality.
Every time I would think about blogging, I didn’t feel inspired. I thought to myself, it’ll happen when it
happens just like the other ones. But it
didn’t seem to happen. No inspiring words
or profound concepts were coming to me.
I’d lost it. The momentum was
gone.
So,
I started other projects and told myself that I didn’t have time to devote to
blogging. The reality was part of me was
just being lazy. All the while, in the
back of my mind, there was that guilt gnawing at me … “you need to do your
blog, you need to do your blog.” As the
months went by, it became easier and easier NOT to do the blog. I had vowed that I wouldn’t be one of those
people who would let their blog lapse. I
went into it knowing that part of doing a blog was making sure that it was kept
current. I knew that a daily or weekly commitment
wasn’t feasible to start out, but I felt confident that a monthly schedule wouldn't be a problem.
Well,
as they say, life happens when you’re busy making other plans. In addition to making excuses for not
blogging, 2016 came in with a roar, and various things started to go wrong. I needed to go through a few storms. As they say, no storm lasts forever. Sometimes, it seems like it might, but it
never does. Eventually, things settle
down and calm prevails.
These
are the lessons I’ve learned from this experience:
1 Perfectionism
is a hard habit to break, but it’s possible to lighten up on yourself. When you realize that you’re being irrationally
unsatisfied with your work, step away from it and come back to it with “fresh
eyes.” Try to release feelings of needing
it to be a certain way or not at all. Don’t
feel like you have to equal or surpass what you’ve done previously. That’s like needlessly competing with
yourself. Be open-minded, and let it be whatever it is.
2 Every
writer gets writer’s block. It goes with
the territory. The block will ultimately
end, and you’ll be able to move forward, but you must pick yourself up and do
it. Get back onto that keyboard! Never let one failed attempt define who you
are. You’re more than that. Your words are needed, and only you can
provide those words.
3 Things
aren’t always going to go as expected. You
must learn to be adaptable and maneuver around the detours on the winding road
of life. Accept that there may be
obstacles on your path, and know that you'll ultimately move past those
obstacles. As you come out on the other
side of each storm, it’ll get easier, and you’ll get stronger. Weather the storms, and look for the rainbows!
With
love, light, and Angel blessings!
Michelle
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