If I did this challenge a year ago, I would have certainly failed.
If I took on this challenge a year ago, this is what I would have done:
I would make a big announcement on social media, brainstorm topics but ran out of ideas half way through, write a few words for each blog and don’t know what else to write, and spend most of my time looking at tools to help me write better.
I would judge how stupid and failing I was for not able to do what I aimed at doing.
It would take hours to write a piece thinking of how perfect it needed to be.
I would spend hours exploring ways to write better, read books, blogs, and stuck in the thinking, thinking, thinking.
But I would not do what I should have done: writing.
I would be too busy and clouded by the unnecessary: my emotions, my worries, weaknesses, my shortcomings, perfectionism, and self-doubts.
Because
I did not know better back then.
I did not have enough knowledge.
I was superfluous.
I was disoriented.
I did not know what to do or how to do it.
I would have abandoned this project a few days in.
But I can do it now.
Some change happened to me over the past few years (Thanks, GOD!) so I felt that I could finish this challenge this time around.
Such realization was manifested beautifully in a book that I read and through my personal experience.
The book is titled “The Practice” by Seth Goldin.
It was exactly what I needed in a moment like this: When I got stuck.
His wisdom coached me through my bottlenecks and answered many of my questions about commitment, success, about failures, about acting like a professional, and about flow state.
It turned my head around and helped me understand the power of practice, commitment, and of becoming excellence.
It changed me. For the better.
This is the quote I love the most in the book The Practice:
“An amateur serves only herself. If there are bystanders, that’s fine, but as an amateur your work is only for you. A privilege, a chance to find joy in creation.
And you may choose to make the leap to be a professional, to have a practice. To show up when the muse isn’t there, to show up if you don’t feel like it. This manifesto is for you.”
A professional is one that does the work when the muse isn’t there.
They do it even though it’s boring, repetitive, unrewarding, not complimented.
They do it even if it is tough, lonely, difficult, draining, stressful.
They just do it. Simply chop wood and carry water.
I realize that the reason why I failed was because I was an amateur with the expectation of becoming a professional.
I realize I need to make that leap.
The leap that Seth Goldin mentioned.
The leap that will allow me to write for others, not just for myself.
A professional writer.
The beginning is simple for me. Simply write. Simply chop wood and carry water.
Back then, I would have failed. Now, I could succeed.
By committing to write.
Simply write.
I wish you luck, and simply do what you love to do and want to do.
Happy New Year <3
Best,
ThaoNB
Day 1 #30DayWritingChallenge
Jan 1/2024