"Everyone knows somebody that needs to read this book (Perseverance) !" –Kathie Lee Gifford, Live on NBC’s Today Show
"Perseverance offers… profound insight for all of us seeking to lead a meaningful life." –Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of A Whole New Mind
»More Reviews
Buy Perseverance
Learning As You Go and The Itty Bitty Check-In List
Today’s post is a little different… no sage advice or aha! moments to share (still there?)… instead I want to talk with you about blogging and how I’m trying to learn as I go. I crave structure and beautifully created project plans; however, when it comes to blogging, structure and plans don’t work for me. I find that as soon as I turn blogging into a project with a start and an end, it quickly becomes another obligation in my already obligation heavy life. And if blogging feels like an obligation, I don’t show up as my essential self. Instead, I enter with expectations and rules to follow — no longer enjoying the process.
Recently, I’ve been telling myself that I am in a blogging rut! I’m not even sure what that means, but my mind has really stuck onto this concept. Something is missing, but I can’t put my finger on what that “something” is just yet. I think the “rut” is a combination of various factors: comparison and judgment (my posts aren’t good enough = I’m not good enough = well, what am I doing? = and around we go again!), personal factors (how much I can share on here about what is happening in my day-to-day life, while maintaining clear boundaries between my personal, professional, and online life), and learning (what is working for me and what isn’t working for me). Now, that’s a lot to process! Rather than berate myself for not having everything figured out, I’m focusing on letting go of the need to know. Uncertainty is scary when we choose to let it take the reigns, but letting go of the desire to create a state of certainty enables us to reestablish a sense of control.
I am learning to show up and acknowledge what is. Simply noticing how I’m feeling without an obligation to fix the situation is liberating. For the past week, I have been checking in with myself at various times throughout the day, utilizing a simple little checklist. About five times a day, I’ll stop what I’m doing and complete the simple list. It consists of six items on a small index card. Each morning, I cut one index card into five smaller cards to use for the day. I write the same list on each of the cards.
:: The Itty Bitty Check-In List ::
day of week:
ticktock:
current activity:
(1) inspired
(2) discouraged
(3) energetic
(4) overwhelmed
(5) confident
(6) bored
This little check-in helps me to refocus and become present. I put the card into my drawer after I complete it. I plan on looking through them at the end of the week to look for any big patterns (e.g., wow, it seems that regardless of the activity, I always feel bored at 4:30 pm… or regardless of the time, I always feel inspired when focused on a writing activity). Even if the cards remain in my drawer forever without any “analysis,” I really value the activity as a way to regain a sense of mindfulness throughout the day.
… endnote …
I wrote this post and was going to separate it into two separate posts, expanding on the first part (learning as you go and blogging) separately from the second part (the itty bitty check-in list). However, I decided to let go and share the thoughts in a less polished format. It’s hard for me to do and the little perfectionist voice inside my head is not happy with me; but oh well, learning as we go, right?
… end endnote …
If you’re interested in working with me to learn innovative ways (creative tricks and techniques with a touch of idea genie dust!) to live a life you love, and truly walk the talk, email me directly to discuss personalized options. Email: carolyn (at) abeautifulrippleeffect (dot) com.
[image: laurageorge]
Related "ripples" you might enjoy:
- My Mighty List
- Learning to Let Go: One Life Altering Step at a Time
- The Five-Step Reality Check
- Dare to Turn Knowledge into Action
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 6th, 2010 at 7:00 am and is filed under Authenticity, Personal, Tips + Techniques. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
9 Responses to “Learning As You Go and The Itty Bitty Check-In List”
Leave a Reply
Twitter: nathalieme
says:
I totally know what you mean. No matter how organized I like to be, for some projects I just need to let them come to form without planning any bits of it so that I don’t spoil the enjoyment of the creative process. I find it even more true when it involves more creativity on my end. Creativity comes in flows that I cannot and should not try to control.
The check list sounds like a great tool, thanks for sharing it! It makes me want to try it out to see if I have a pattern where I feel more creative or bored at certain times of the day. It would be great to know that so to “plan” outdoor/sport activities in “bored” periods and to know that creative periods are best to tackle new projects.
I have always had problems completing my projects, but I found a way around it. I write down every single thing that I need to do, even the smallest things which is something that I should remember. I find that if I don’t follow a checklist I won’t get everything done that I would like to get done. Checklists are the best! :)
Twitter: benspoont
says:
Great post! I love using checklists but sometimes find that they get unmanageable!
Nicely done, Carolyn. You’re letting go made for a lovely and insightful post. I liked when you said that “if blogging feels like an obligation, I don’t show up as my essential self.” I’m with you. I love structure, but find I’m better and more real without it. Blogging is a wonderfully personal and public format that just belies definition sometimes, and yet it fills me with such passion I guess something about it must work. Sounds like it’s a bit that way for you. Maybe it helps us work through our stuff as much as it helps those we’re trying to help. Great post. Just found you through your guest post on Barrie’s http://www.liveboldandbloom.com, but I feel like I’ve been here before. Deja-vu. It’s good to be back.
katie´s last blog ..How to Sustain Change- Week 7 of the 7-Week Life Cleanse
Thank you!! Love the itty-bitty check list! I’m going to try this! I think self experiments/research are always enlightening!
Sherry´s last blog ..Sharing
I find staying in a place of observation is always the best route when moving through uncomfortable feelings. And I love the way you are tracking your moods throughout each day. :)
Twitter: lionslinger
says:
Most of the time, it is better to just let go for a while. Solutions and enlightenment comes when we stop struggling and allowing what is. There are always lesson in every circumstance that we encounter, it is better to look for it and adapt it. :-)
Twitter: wisdom4djourney
says:
Sometimes, the more organized we want our blogging to be, the more bored we become! ;) It’s okay to be spontaneous once in a while.
Joyce at What Would You Do In Heaven?´s last blog ..What’s So Cute About a Baby
I’ve planned writing a similar post so many times. The funny thing is that just contemplating writing a post on the squishiness of blogging, causes the very uncertainty I’d write about … the need to plan it, say it right, have the right font, increase subscribers, be ready for a guest post, and on and on. Somehow it was easier when I had no idea what I was doing, ignorance was bliss.
The pressure I put on myself through hoping to do well, can sometimes prevent me from doing well, and from accomplishing what I hope to accomplish.
Fortunately, like you, I am learning to let go of the outcome. I am only responsible for my part, for the writing, for being true to myself. How my writing is received is the part of other people … people I have no control over. Amazing liberation comes with letting go of outcomes, and concentrating on what’s best for me.
Though my content is for my readers, they will most appreciate my content when they read the real me.
~ You’re doing a great job. We’re all learning together. :)
Jane Rochelle´s last blog ..Reflections On A Homemade Life- A Book By Molly Wizenberg