So, I’ve been struggling for the past 5 days to write a particular article that’s been on mind for a couple of weeks now. Initially, I thought it would be a breeze because I’m so passionate about the topic. However, for whatever reason, unbeknownst to me, I just haven’t been able to express my thoughts in a clear and concise way.
Honestly, it looks like a complete mess; an incoherent “stream of consciousness” better suited to my journal than the internet.
And it sucks because I’ve been trying so hard to get it right. I’ve literally scrapped everything I’ve written and started over at least 5 times, which is insane because each time I’m writing close to 2,000 words!
My usual process (on a good day) goes relatively smoothly. Typically, I enter a "flow" like state, without stopping to over analyse or correct my spelling and grammar mistakes. (The aim is always to just get the thoughts out of my head.) Then, after a short break or even the following day, I’ll go back with a fresh set of eyes and edit the crap out of it, maybe swapping around a few paragraphs and re-writing certain sentences until it feels “done”.
1-2 days max, it normally takes me write my articles.
This time however, I’ve just been unable to find my rhythm and no amount of coffee breaks or walks in the park to clear my head have been able to help.
Bottom line, it’s just not working. It’s now time to give up and accept that this article may never see the light of day. I mean, we can push and push as much as want, but sometimes we just have to recognise when there’s nothing more we can do and move on. Which I know is so tough for us as writers. We’re perfectionists and we so desperately want to follow through to fruition all our thoughts and ideas.
Who knows, maybe I’ll revisit the article in a few weeks or a month's time, and maybe I won’t.
And that’s okay.
It’s taken me a long time to get this point in my life where I can be compassionate with myself in this kind of situation and not consider myself a failure. The article, yes, is a failure, but definitely not me, as a human being.
I think any ambitious person has grappled with the distinction between those two concepts, because we can identify so strongly with our work and see things not going well as a direct reflection on us personally. Unfortunately, it can be so easy to fall into the trap of needless self-blame, internalising our frustration and convincing ourselves we’re just not good enough.
It really takes a lot of practice and a strong mind to stay on track and not let the disappointment paralyse or sideline us; to remind ourselves that in every struggle, there’s a lesson to be learned.
Personally, in the past, this kind of setback would have set my inner critic into overdrive, filling my head with negativity and self-doubt, preventing me from trying again for well over a month, maybe more.
Nowadays, I’m much quicker at catching those familiar thoughts and replacing them with more positive ones. I’m still not great, nor consistent, but at least this time it’s only taken me 5 days to get over the stress, rather than a month!
If my past disappointments in life have taught me anything, it’s this:
It’s better to get straight back on the horse, than to run the risk of never getting back on at all.
Because the longer you wait, the harder it becomes.
So, here I am, dusting myself off and posting something today, even if it’s not the article I had originally planned. At the end of a day, having the bravery and commitment to keep trying, to keep putting yourself out there and admitting your struggles and your mistakes, can only serve to help, not hinder you in the long run.
That’s my opinion anyway, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do you deal with setbacks? Are you prone to negative self-talk and self-doubt?
If you liked this post, you might also be interested in my other articles:
Is It True We Have You Spend Money To Earn Money On Steemit?
This Image Obsessed World Is Ridiculous
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