Keep On Struggling
Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.
Napoleon Hill
My posting recently has been sporadic to say the least. I don’t know if you noticed, but this is how I feel lately. I’ve struggled with inspiration, with time, with intentionality, and with motivation to keep writing.
I don’t want to fall into the pattern of posting just because it’s what I’m supposed to do – to keep the streak alive. (Although, I think there is something good about pushing through it even when you don’t feel like it. For all my posts about discipline, I think this may fall into the discipline of showing up.)
I don’t want to post garbage content. I want my content to mean something to me and to those (few or many) who read it.
I don’t want to write simply to chase traffic. This is a trap I see many getting themselves into. They follow the “formulas” of other “popular”, “more successful” bloggers in an effort to grow their lists, to sell their latest product or book, or to get their name out there for the whole world to see. I get it that this is almost required in order to make a name for yourself and to get published. It just seems like there are too many people pulling others into their funnel with promises of wealth, fame, and success if they just try the next greatest webinar, seminar, book, or mastermind group. I can understand how these things may work, but it also seems to border on using people. Please don’t take this as criticism. It’s really just me reanalyzing my writing and how I approach my writing pursuits.
And I’m not alone in these feelings. I see it in the writing of some other bloggers like Larry Carter who wrote last week about his own wrestling in a post titled Changes In Blogging. Chad Jones wrote about it the week before in a post titled Things Forgotten: The Work Is Its Own Reward. And earlier in May, Dan Erickson expressed reasons he was cutting back on the blogging in a post titled Why I’m Putting Less Emphasis On Blogging.
Maybe it’s the approaching “laziness” of summer, or maybe others are facing the need to reanalyze their priorities, their prizes, and their perspectives.
First and foremost, I want my writing pursuits and all my other pursuits to bring glory to God. If I can get this right, I think the rest will take care of itself. It’s too easy to get distracted – to divert our eyes to “prizes” that won’t last. I want to chase the prize that will last forever.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. I Corinthians 9:24-27
I will keep writing. But I may be a little sporadic for a bit as I continue to let God shape my heart, my thoughts, and my overall being. I hope you’ll stick with me as I continue on this journey. I believe God has given me a voice. I just want to make sure I’m using it wisely.