Welcome! This is my first blog entry.
Before I discuss what this blog will be about and tell you , the reader, what you will get out of reading this, I first would like to share the process of what went into creating this first post. I feel it is on target with these objectives. I hope you enjoy!
Let me begin by stating, “blogging is new for me”.
Anytime something new begins, there is a feeling of excitement! There are endless possibilities for what can happen and where things may head!
There is also a pressure that accompanies this feeling. A pressure to do well, make the right impression, and set the intended tone.
These familiar feelings have previously come up before big events like the start of a new school year, a new relationship, a new job/promotion, and, of course, when there is a new addition to the family.
To varying degrees, these feelings may also come up with smaller scale tasks, such as: completing homework, exercising, or cooking dinner. The anticipation and pressure to do well in whatever role(s) life has presented you with may never go away. This can actually be a good thing as it drives us to succeed and pushes us to be better at whatever it is we are doing.
However, there can be negative side effects that creep up from these feelings. These include: analyzing our actions too often, being too critical of our performance, or being overly harsh to ourselves/others . This unchecked and self-imposed pressure may even stop us from accomplishing what we intend to achieve. In fact, it almost happened to me during this post!
What to write about?
Before I typed any of this, I felt a pressure to compose something interesting for my first blog post. Something that would be a worthwhile read. But what if it isn’t interesting? What if I do not clearly communicate what I want to say to my readers? What if it’s loaded with typos and grammatical errors? Cue the snowball effect of “what if” thoughts and my diminished desire to get started.
Before I decided to put off this task entirely , I thankfully had a moment of pause which helped me recall that “sometimes we may think way too much about doing instead of just doing”. I then began typing. I realized “perhaps that moment alone was worth sharing with readers?” This small victory is what my first post would be about! Readers, please stay with me! Allow me to elaborate on this further and how this may help you.
Finding Inspiration to Begin
Finding a way to begin is the most important step in the process of doing. Before jumping in, it can help to find some inspiration for getting in the right mindset.
Inspiration can come from exposure to nature, meditating, finding a partner, creating a vision board, thinking of the positives outcomes or a healthy amount of thought/planning.
Note: In my next blog post, I will share an article from Zen Habits ” How to DO the Thing You’re Avoiding” that I find provides some additional helpful tips for taking action on avoided tasks.
For me, it was about pausing then starting. I also put on some music and committed a block of time that was set for this post only. I then kept in mind that my purpose for writing this blog is to share my passion for helping others improve their lives and to provide resources that can contribute towards one’s wellness journey. This provided me some direction and motivation to continue on after I began. I expect that your process would look different from mine.
But what if I am not feeling inspired?
Ok, so you went for a walk outside, took a few deep breathes, and looked at some inspirational quotes on social media but still do not feel in the zone to begin. Sometimes, the conditions may not be ideal, you need more time to go over all of the risks and benefits, or it just may be a hard to find inspiration. During these times, you may be at risk for developing “paralysis by analysis” or, to put it simply, you may be overthinking it.
To avoid this, there may be times it is appropriate and helpful just to do whatever it is that you want/need to do- with less thought. Just putting on those running shoes, starting that first sentence with any word that comes to mind in the paper due tomorrow, or saying “hello” to that person you have wanted to get to know better can set your task in motion. You have bypassed the thinking it over stage and have momentum!
Deciding to ” just start” ( looking to avoid using the slogan of a popular sneaker brand) takes away the expectation that things must be well thought out and perfect before you can complete or even begin your task. It also helps combat any dread, self-doubt, or fear that may be present. In most cases, you can make any tweaks or revisions along the way after you started. At least you are doing whatever it is! As for me, just writing allowed me to put together my first post.
Keep in mind, there will obviously be tasks/behaviors that require more thought before acting. For example, anything related to major decisions, legal issues, personal safety, or anything that has severe consequences would fit this category. So please use your judgment, be careful, and do no harm!
As a reader, what can you expect in the future?
So I end this first post asking myself… Will this blog reflect on things from my life? Perhaps. Will it detail lessons that I have learned or at least share information that may benefit others? Hopefully. Do I have the ability to figure it out along the way and make changes as needed? Absolutely.
My intention for this blog is to periodically share stories, mental health/wellness resources, and some interesting facts that you may find helpful. I am leaving all of the other specifics open ended for now. If you have any suggestions on topics or want more information on counseling services please feel free to reach out to me at richm@meaningandpurpose.org .
Thank you for reading.