I was going to write my blog last night, had some good ideas and then kept doing other thing as the clock turned 8pm then 9pm and next thing I knew it was 6am and sun-rise.
When I realized I’d missed a day of blogging in this 30 day blog challenge – I thought “I blew it”, “as usual” – “lasted a week and then lapsed.” Negative self talk – loser me.
Luckily paying attention pays off and I noticed that I was traipsing down a thorny path and stopped. I recalled that the challenge said 30 day blog challenge – ie 30 blogs in 30 days. I’m doubling up today.
I have to admit the possibility of not doing 2 blogs today passed fleetingly through my mind and I cringed at the thought of blogs piling up. It made me want to quit while I was ahead.
There are situations with similar dynamics:
– you eat a cookie on a no carb, no sugar diet and figure you’d better forget the diet – you blew it with the cookie;
– you vow to keep track of money you spend, or the food you eat and you last a day or two, fall off the wagon and never get back on again.
It’s got me thinking about what keeps us on track even when it comes to doing something we enjoy. What helps us to show up and keep our promises, to ourselves and others?
First we have to make a promise – like I did to myself and others by signing up for this 30 Day Blog Challenge.
We have to see clearly and value the benefits of fulfilling the challenge. We have to do whatever we need to remind ourselves – with alarms, buddies, routines – be it blogging, yoga, meditation, walking, reading, practicing the violin. Simple practices ground us no matter what is going on. We may need community, or a ride, a nudge, soul searching.
If you’re not doing something you say you want to do, ask yourself if you really and truly want to do it. Maybe you don’t and are afraid to say so. If you do, stop making up stories and using them as excuses. As for help. There’s nothing like a great coach to hold a space for you to be your most amazing.
I’m going to keep it simple here. I want to blog. I fell asleep and missed a day and I’m going to make it up. I learned I should blog earlier in the day – not as risky; and that it would be a good idea to build up a small store of blogs to use when I’m away or fall asleep.
This advice to myself is for you too. It applies to anything that you use to let yourself off the hook of keeping a promise. It suggests making things easy for yourself, getting enough sleep, support, leaving yourself some wiggle room and making up stories that invite you to step into new places within and without.
I’m keeping my blog promise to myself and to you.
I totally understand! I slipped up a few days with my blogging as well. I just told myself that I really want to get better, so I will do what I have to in order to get caught up!
Good to see you are still in the challenge – I think you have a great attitude, and I love the comparisons you made to other times in life when we get a bit behind or don’t do things “perfectly.” Promises kept – has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Thanks for the honest post!
Evelyn
blog30
Thanks Evelyn for your comment – I think there’s a lot of power in acknowledging where we are (a blog or to behind), taking stock and deciding what to do – even as I write this reply I picture a mini tidal wave of undone things, catching up, piles – clearly this is a juicy topic for – with a cure consisting of presence, attitude and then strategy – like anything and everything. xxAnne
Ronda – Good luck on your challenge – it is as simple as that – do what you need to do to be where you want to be – I’m rooting for us all. xxAnne
My weeks seem to fly by, and on my priority list…well it is last.
Clients’ work (and their blogs) come first, as do meetings, speeches, my new book…and then, when I have time (or think of something I want to say), I post.
It is like counting myself last. Also, some blog posts don’t get any comments and then I think…why bother?
Sounds like you have your priorities and as the post you pointed me to on twitter said – what’s the purpose, why are you blogging? I like your posts – comfortable, down to earth, reading with real value. Maybe rather than putting yourself last – it’s saving the best for last! It’s a work in progress for me and why I joined the 30 day blog challenge – I love to write, want to invite conversation, build a ‘following’, pay more attention, invite people to subscribe, sign up for ezine and become clients. It’s also a great way for me to ‘see’ what rising to the top of my thought soup. Thanks for commenting – I’ll return the favor.