Raise your hand if you’ve ever been faced with complete self doubt – feeling like you’re at a stand still, believing you’ve done all you can, wondering whether all you’re doing is just a waste of time and effort, and debating whether you should just throw in the towel and call it quits.
I’d have to raise both hands.
I’m going to be real with you guys, because I don’t want you to think my life is all fringe, glitter, and fluffy kitties. The last few months I was going through a real stage of self doubt. I struggled with my choice to cut my teaching hours (and paycheque) to blog more. I felt really unsure about what I was doing with my life, and doubted whether I could really make my dreams become a reality. The thought loomed in the back of my head – just go back to teaching full time, get your benefits, get your pension, put in your 30 years and retire.
But every time I thought of that alternate life I felt caged. The idea of letting my creative side whither because I felt like it wasn’t going anywhere was just stifling. No. I would have to persevere.
And then it happened. Things started to pick up, areas in my life that felt stagnant were being revived, new opportunities were coming, and just yesterday I won the Staples Makeover Contest. But the biggest moment of all has come – I got an e-mail saying I was going to speak at Alt Summit in June.
Yep. This is a big step in the right direction friends, and I am beyond thrilled to be able to experience this – to speak at Alt! I have so much I want to share and can’t wait to meet all the amazing people that make blogging so inspirational.
I can’t confirm what I will be speaking on yet, but right now I can confirm one thing – no matter how down you feel about where you are or where life is going, there is one thing that will keep you going: perseverance. That inner voice of perseverance or courage is what separates you from the rest. Don’t shut it out. Don’t let the inner voice of doubt take over. So long as there’s is a shred of yearning or hope in you, keep going. Things are bound to come into play, and it may be not how you wanted or expected, but life has a way of making things work out.
And if it doesn’t work out today, try again tomorrow.
For me, it was that immediate feeling of being caged I felt with the thought about going back full time to a government job. This kept me going. I knew I couldn’t bare it if I succumbed to practicalities, and that, no matter the struggles and self doubt (more episodes of which are surely to come), this was the path I needed to take.
Congratulations! What an exciting time! Your’e doing good work 🙂 And I really love this quote. I thought about it all the time when I was studying for the bar last summer.
Oh goodness girl. If you studied for the bar you can do anything!
aw tan, congratulations! that’s so exciting – staples win and speaking at alt! gah there’s a lot of tough choices when it comes to blogging sometimes. you are such an active and positive blogger with lots of fun ideas – and if it’s something you love, it is definitely worth pursuing!
blogging does have a lot of ups and downs though… usually for me it’s a creative idea that hits me that makes me want to persevere and continue. just when i think my brain has dried up and i am suffering mega creative-block, often i’ll get sacked with a splattering of ideas. i guess i’ve just learned to trust myself that when things look tough (ie, trying to scrape together and collect all my freelance payments!) it has thusfar always worked out… (ie, new opportunities, new friendships, a sweet email or a kind comment…)
i will try again tomorrow is great. it reminds me of what i say to myself after i’ve eaten like 7 cookies in a day: “tomorrow is a new food day!” haha… !
^__^
Aww thanks so much for your sweet and supportive words Lyndsay!
Ahh I totally know what you mean! It’s frustrating when that creative block hits, but often a creative wave comes in full force eh?
LOL. Okay, that is the best ever, and now I want to go eat 7 cookies just so I can say “tomorrow is a new food day” 😉
Congratulations! What exciting news! And a timely post for me as I have made a similar decision in my life to work less hours at me conventional job. I also have been feeling caged. I don’t get to cut them back until fall, but my am trying to preserver until then, while planning a better life of blogging and a million other new ventures! I look forward to your reno!
Congrats to you Erin! It isn’t an easy decision to make but it’s often the best. Wishing you a ton of success and happiness!
Congrats on Alt Summit and Staples! That’s so fantastic and I can definitely relate. April was a ridiculously dreary month for me – but also presented three amazing opportunities, so I hope there are more to come!
Ahhh hooray! So excited for your Adina, and I hope to hear about it!
What?!?! That’s huge! Congrats – it’s amazing how you take a step of faith and it totally pays off 🙂 SO happy for your friend! Wish I was going so I could sit in and hang out a bit!!
XOXO
Thanks so much hun! Aww man it would be so lovely to have you there. Sometime we will hang out and eat donuts or cookies!
Congrats! on the speaking gig. I put in a submission and haven’t heard a thing, so I don’t know what that means. I guess maybe next year. Can’t wait to hear what your topic is!
Thanks so much Brianne! I applied last January and didn’t get accepted. Persevere girl 😉
Congrats on your Staples win and Alt Summit invite! That’s so exciting! Patience and hard work pays off. 😀 Wish I could come and hear your talk!
It sure does eh?