Two Years of Successfully Failing at Blogging

Today is the 2nd anniversary of FITE addiction! I have read that most bloggers quit in the first 2-3 months of writing. So to what do I owe my success of reaching this anniversary? Not quitting. Before you say, “Well yeah duh, smart ass,” allow me elaborate on this simple but not easy process.

Like most adults, my passion projects get put to the side for other responsibilities. For every hour I want to dedicate to writing, there are five other things competing for that time, and it shows. Looking through my posts you will see a spotty history. Sputters and stalls, long lulls, and brief jolts into action. And you know what? I see this as success.

The perfectionist in me used to take inventory of the 17 posts in almost two years and judge it as a failure. Far from the seemingly manageable bar of at least one post per month I strived for at the beginning. Maybe it’s only because I have recently overcome some significant hurdles and have hit a stride that I can look back and declare the endeavor a success.

The parallels between the struggle to consistently blog and battling shopping addiction are noteworthy. When I am not living up to my own expectations I am vulnerable to slipping into disappointment or worse, shame. Nonetheless, I pick back up and start again. It did not matter if I had not written anything in three months. It did not matter that I went on a shopping binge and purge. What mattered was what came next. Opening the blank document to write. Being honest with myself and updating YNAB. What it comes down to is that I did not stop. This is how I now define success.[1]I have no affiliation with YNAB. It is a tool I find highly valuable for my financial sobriety.

If you gave yourself permission to successfully fail at something, what would it be? Even if it was difficult and it appeared like no progress was being made, it would still be worth it? Would you learn to play an instrument, start writing a book, or maybe take community college classes to go towards something you have always wanted to do? I am rooting for you to get started.

References

References
1 I have no affiliation with YNAB. It is a tool I find highly valuable for my financial sobriety.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *