Since my very first YYCDI blog post, I’ve strived to make each and every post searingly honest. Today’s is no exception…
For a few weeks now, I just haven’t been feeling the enthusiasm and passion I usually have for the blog. I’m sure this will be a temporary state-of-mind but, unfortunately, it’s where I’m at right now. There are a few things spinning around in my head relating to it that I just can’t shake.
I’m very conscious that I haven’t written about anxiety for some time, as well as other mental health issues such as lacking confidence, having low self-esteem, and experiencing impostor syndrome. This may be largely due to not having been in too many scenarios over the past 12-15 months that tend to trigger these feelings, certainly where anxiety is concerned, though I feel as though I should still be able to find something to write about relating to these subjects.
I’m conscious that recent posts have instead focused on areas such as opportunity, ambition, and what we can achieve. My original aim for the blog was to cover themes such as this in addition to mental health, though I’m a little concerned that constantly bleating on about subject matter such as this may not be what people want to read.
I’m still unsure if I’ve found my audience or not. Facebook is fine as a platform – I’m well aware that a good number of people read the posts and get something from them. I’ve had many valuable conversations when catching up with people who have told me that they may not respond to the posts but quite often find something which resonates with them, and that means a lot to me – it was the main reason I started this blog. However, having set up a YYCDI Instagram page a few months ago, I’m unsure how best to use that platform. My initial thoughts are that it is a forum more suited to inspirational / motivational / aspirational type posts and I need to devote more time to determining just how I use Instagram over the coming months to get the best out of it. I’ve also recently set up a YYCDI page on LinkedIn though I already believe that is a waste of time. There is very little interaction on that platform and it isn’t just my page – having researched and followed many other pages and organisations relating to mental health, there just doesn’t appear to be a huge audience for it on LinkedIn (other than a select few really significant mental health organisations). I’ll keep that account going for now though it may not last too long.
I’m also conscious that, when I’ve sat down to write over recent weeks, I’m poring over the many potential post ideas I have and finding I don’t feel particularly enthused by any of them. Again, many of the ideas I have noted are now centred on positivity / potential / what we can achieve, and I’m sure that has something to do with it. I really do need to quash the idea that I’ll frequently post about mental health issues. It may not always be the case and the blog posts may well need to come in blocks, with a few at a time relating to positivity / potential, followed by a few others relating to mental health. I’m sure the latter will become prominent again as we ease our way back into ‘normal life’…
I suppose all this will pass – I’m certainly hoping it will. In all areas of life, we all experience doubt at times, and question ourselves at some point or another. That’s the position I’m in right now. At times like these, it’s important to step back, consider what has worked so well previously, and look to the future. I’m proud of the blog. I’m pleased I ignored the fear of what people may think and started to write on a weekly basis two years ago. I said back then that if this helps just one other person, it will be worthwhile – I know for certain that has been the case. And I still have much to write about, even if that means honing in on areas such as positivity, defiance, and possibilities. I’m also hopeful that an upcoming milestone will relight my fire – post number 100 will land on Sunday 20th June. Connected to that, I’ll be compiling the first 100 posts in an e-book which I’ll be publishing for free on Amazon. I am quite excited by being able to do this and hope that working on that book over the coming weeks will get me back on track.
The key, as always during times of doubt, is to keep going. Think about the bigger picture rather than this specific moment in time; accentuate the positives; keep moving forward. There is always, always, something to be thankful for…
As always, thanks for reading, stay safe, and please do try to be kind to others and to yourself.
Best wishes and take care.
Mick
