Inspiration Overload

Even as I attempt to write a blog post, I am reminded of the symptoms of my self-diagnosed combined ADHD.  There is a lot I would like share on this subject (maybe even too much) and sometimes I find it hard to get my ideas to stand in line and wait their turn.

I imagine that in my mind there are two rooms, one where ideas are born, and the other where they are processed into something that can be seen and understood by the outside world.  Between these two rooms there is a door.  For the most part, the ideas are content to stay in the first room.  They don’t even seem to notice the door, never-mind the world the lies beyond.

Oh, but if one of them happens to catch a glimpse, they all rush for the door at once, pushing and clawing, trying to force their way through.  It feels like a power-surge of inspiration, but If I am not prepared, it can end in disappointment, and frustration.  You see, only one idea can fit through the door at a time, and all the time they are struggling to be the one chosen idea, they are also growing.  My mind is filled with so many thoughts going in different directions it feels like Grand Central Station.  In desperation, I grab the idea that looks most promising, shove the others back, slam the door shut, and lock it; hoping I have made the right choice.  Other times, If I happen to have a pen and paper handy, I will write down as many of the ideas as possible, and start working on them one at a time.  If an idea isn’t thoroughly processed (or written down) in a timely manner, there is no telling if or when it will return.

Why You Should Have Unimpressive Goals

Last week, I came to the conclusion that if I was going to help others, I would have to Help Myself First.  The plan was to create some new good habits, and to quit the old bad habits.  Sounds like a good idea.  Well, I was trolling my old blog, and found that I had come to the same realization just six short months ago.  I made a plan of action, which involved meditating, exercising, and free-writing for 10 minutes a day each, and let me tell you it was not successful.

What Went Wrong?

So, why did I fail?

• The changes were too big
• I took on too many habits at once
• I didn’t commit to a certain time of day
• I had no accountability
• I did not have any reminders or habit triggers

So this time, I am committing to exercise vigorously for 2 minutes upon rising in the morning.  I will also be placing a little sign that says “Exercise” on the bathroom mirror (one of the first places I look in the morning).

It may seem unimpressive, but I would rather have a one humble goal that I can achieve than a hundred impressive goal that I will never accomplish.

(From “Do You Believe That?” on 4-10-14)

I have been reflecting lately, on the purpose and meaning in life. I have found that, no matter what you believe, the ultimate calling on our lives is to help others. There is nothing more fulfilling than positively impacting the life of another human. to give them something that they could not have attained on their own.

However, in order to effectively help others, I must first help myself. If my life is a wreck, and I have no direction, and no clue how to handle my own situations, how can I ever hope to benefit another person.  But how do I help myself?  I would say, the first step is to learn about myself.  In doing this, I will be learning about all human life, as we share the same desires, the same fears, the same ambitions, and the same needs.

In an effort to accomplish this, I have started three new habits: Meditation, Free-Writing, and Exercise. I plan to do each of these every day for 10 minutes a day, for at least the next month.

Meditation:

In our fast paced society, we do not often take time to sit quietly with ourselves, and just observe our own thoughts.  There is always something flashing, making noise, moving around.  We live in a world of constant distraction, and do not get the opportunity to just be.  Meditation is a great opportunity allow the world to simply turn underneath us, with no worries, being confident that, at least for now, the earth will take care of itself.

When I meditate, I do worry about perfect posture.  I simply sit in a relaxed position, and focus on my breathing.  I do not worry about emptying my mind.  If a thought enters my mind, I acknowledge it, let it go, and go back to my breathing.

Free Writing

I have found this to be very relaxing, and a big stress-reliever.  It releases any thoughts that have been weighing on my mind, and helps me to expound on ideas for projects and articles.  I hope this will help me to be able to express myself more freely and easily when I write, as well as helping me to learn more about who I am.

Exercise

In my search for self-awareness, I not only want to become more familiar with my mind, but also my body.  Exercising regularly will help build discipline, and help me to be aware of my physical body.  I have not started this habit yet, but when I do, I plan to keep it simple.  Running, walking, yoga, anything that will get me moving, and increase my physical self awareness.

Thanks for reading, folks.

Live in the moment, be happy with what you have, and CLICK ON THIS AD!

 

There are over 152,000,000 blogs out there, with more popping up every day.  Many of these are filled with amazing content, produced by phenomenal people who enjoy sharing their passion.  But can we admit, that many of us have dreamed of blogging not just for our passion, but for a living?  of turning our little ideas into a big check? Honestly most of us would settle for turning our big ideas into a little check!  So, we look around the internet, trying to find different ways to monetize on our blogs.  Pay-Per-Click Ads, Affiliate Ads, In-Text Ads, Confusing Ads, links to articles that are really ads.

It puzzles me, when I go to read an article about minimalism, or anti-consumerism, and the page is chock full of ads!  “Live in the moment, be happy with what you have, and CLICK ON THIS AD!”  Trying to make a living doing what you love is commendable, but there has to be a different way.  Now I believe that most of us bloggers have good intentions.  We aren’t trying to fleece anyone.  We would just like to quit our day job so we could spend more time creating awesome content.  That’s what the people want, isn’t it?  That’s what the world needs, right?

eBooks

So, we will remove the ads, creating a more comfortable environment for our readers, and our conscience.  But where do we get the money?  That’s it!  we can write eBooks!  152,000,000 eBooks…So now we not only need to convince people to come and read our blogs, maybe even subscribe, but also to buy our eBooks (which somehow have got to be better than the free content we have already been struggling to create during our “free time”)  Okay, I don’t know if this option is going to work either.

Put Out Your Hand

The best option that I can see, is a virtual tip jar.  I have been noticing these more and more, and I really like the idea behind it.  You like a post, you leave a tip.  After all, blogging is an art form, just like that guy on the corner playing that old beat-up saxophone.  He’s pretty good.  give him a couple bucks.  Ah, that felt nice, didn’t it?  I don’t know if these virtual tip jars actually work, not having one myself, but I know it is definitely a better option than selling your soul to the advertising companies.

If anyone has any other ideas, I have already drafted my letter of resignation for my 9 to 5, and I am itching to print it off.

Writing Rule Number 2

For those of you who are Chronologically Inclined, here is the first post in this series: The Number One Writing Rule

I really enjoy writing.  It is a great way to relieve stress, gather my thoughts, and express myself.  But the feeling I get when I know that my writing has benefited another person or (dare I say it?) several people, it borders on ecstasy.  I know I am not the only one, because there are quite literally a bazillion articles on the internet with titles like, “How To Improve Your Writing” or “Three Things To Avoid When Writing” and “237 Rules You Must Follow When Making a Blog Post”

So, what rule is so important that it landed the Number 2 spot?

Writing Rule #2: Break the rules.  Don’t just break them, smash them.  Obliterate them.  (This doesn’t just apply to writing, but to to any creative act.  In fact, it applies to all of life.)

There are a lot of good people out there with good, even phenomenal advice.  There are people who know how to get followers, and likes, and up-votes, page-views, and comments.  They know the right way to write a post, and they know the wrong way.  Most of the time, it is a good idea to follow their advice.  It can be a very helpful tool to improve your writing.

All those rules though, can make for a nerve-wracking experience.  Am I posting at the right time of day?  Am I including enough keywords for SEO?  Do I have enough line breaks?  Is this post too long, too short, too whiny, too off-topic, too personal?  When we become a slave to rules, the art of writing is lost.

To me, it seems silly to apply rules just for rules’ sake.  A question I ask myself when writing is, “Does applying this rule add value to my post?” If it does, great.  If not, I rebel.  So bend ’em, break ’em, or side-step ’em.  Please, just don’t follow ’em.  At least not all the time.  (And remember, that includes Rule Number 2)

What writing rules do you follow?  Which ones do you break?

The Number One Writing Rule

I have been writing as a hobby for some time, and I enjoy it immensely.  I also enjoy having an audience with which I can interact, and exchange ideas.  (And, while I hate to admit it,  I love seeing the page-view-ometer spike from time to time) I have felt the joy of creating very successful posts, which resonate with people, and help them along their journey, and I have also felt the despair of posting utter rubbish, that causes readers to question my cognitive ability.

(Spoiler Alert:  The rule is to be yourself.  This can also be applied to any other area of your life, with amazing results)

More often than not, the more relateable works are the ones that come from the heart.  They start with an exciting idea that I can’t wait to write about, my fingers fly across the keyboard in a flourish, and the end result is something beautiful, something real, and something meaningful.

Conversely, the drab writings usually happen when I need to produce something.  for example, if I have been posting every weekday on my blog for the past month (which never happens, but hey, it’s a hypothetical, so just relax, okay?) and I happen to have a day where I am lacking inspiration, I may try to force myself to write, for the sake of the blog.  (I mean, my three loyal readers are expecting it after all, and what will it do to my SEO if I don’t regularly post new content?) In this situation, my motive is impure, and it shows plainly through in the finished product.

The other fatal error which I habitually make is creating content based on what I think people want to read.  As well intentioned as this seems, it is actually quite misguided.  I hardly know myself.  How can I even pretend to know what other people want to hear.  Additionally, if you are only posting something because it is what your audience wants to hear, they won’t want to hear it.  What people want is authenticity.  They want something genuine (well I guess I do know what people want after all, go figure)

So, what is the solution? 

Be yourself.  Create content based on what you love, and what you are passionate about.  Odds are, there are many people out there who share your values and your ideas, and operate on the same wavelength.

Expose yourself to your passion.  If you spend all of your time writing in isolation, your writing is going to be flat.  Read about your passion, follow blogs that are similar to yours, if your passion is music, go to a concert.  If it is tennis, go to a match.  If it is human waste management, visit the Sublah International Museum of Toilets. 

Take a break.  Refuel, recharge, take a week off.  Its okay.  Jot down any ideas that come to mind, and when you come back, you we be refreshed and ready to go.

Relax.  It is going to be okay.  You are going to create something fantastic, and people will love it.  and if you are truly passionate about it, your time will never be wasted.  So, relax.

It is important to note that this method can be applied to any aspect of your life.  Be yourself, Live your passion, and relax.