Dec
Finding My Voice Part II
3 Months after my initial post about finding my voice, 5 months into blogging, over 100 posts, and over 200 comments, I feel like I’m creating my groove. I could not have done it without you.
Putting together posts twice a day for the Season of Gratitude helped me to stay focused. Building that project gave me a focal point for the site. It really helped me to figure out what I want to say.
I also realized that I need to take a break. I’ve made Sunday my rest day. On Sunday, and any day that I take as a vacation day from my job, I will refrain from the blogosphere: no stats, no feeds, no posts. I tried this out during Thanksgiving and, lo and behold, the earth did not stop. I was really afraid of breaking the habit of consistently writing, but I realized that the break gave me a fresh perspective and renewed energy. Turns out if I’m doing something I really enjoy, then it’s not a chore unless I make it one.
On the flip side, good old consistency, practice, and discipline, are also critical players in helping me to find my voice. The more I write, the more natural it feels. I also get tons of ideas from Copyblogger. After the holidays, I’ll be dedicating serious time to reading about good writing and reading good writing. I’m eyeing a few on Darren’s list.
I am beginning to feel at home in the personal development and coaching circle of bloggers. When I speak to audiences, I make eye contact with the people I know in the audience and it helps me to stay connected with everyone. When I blog, I feel like I am connecting to more people because I am making “eye contact” with the bloggers with whom I’ve become acquainted.
Through the other practices that I have established as part of the Life Transformation Program, I am becoming more at home in my own skin. I am learning more about myself and deepening my awareness with Spirit. As I go through this, more and more of “me” is pouring out in this blog. I feel joyous, happy, inspired, and safe all at once. When I sit down to write, that translates into a less awkward post. At least from where I’m sitting.
I am still struggling to keep the conversation open. I really want Balanced Life Center to be a discussion of ideas. I want you to take ideas from this site and implement them in your lives. I also want to hear what you are doing in your lives that’s working for you. And, I want you to interact with each other. I want the site to be a true community and exchange of ideas, like a pot luck for spirituality and personal development. I am working on this in the real world as well. I’m sure that once I figure it out virtually or “real”, things will just flow.
All in all, I am really enjoying my groove. I am honored that you all continue to read and provide your feedback openly and willingly. I look forward to the next 5 months.
I welcome any words of wisdom in all its forms from you.
In Spirit,
Nneka
December 17th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Keeping the conversation alive is tough, because many (myself included) leave comments and then move on to the next post, rarely checking back for the follow-up post. I start the conversation on my blog, then often continue it via e-mail with the person who initiated it. While that isn’t a public conversation, it does keep things alive.
If I think of any easy way to do it, I will assuredly share it. I think the truth of the matter is if it’s important, it will be done. If it’s not, it won’t.
And GREAT for you that you’ll be taking breaks. Refresh yourself, and your perspective, when you can. Very important for all of us to remember.
December 18th, 2006 at 11:13 pm
Phil, I’m always back and forth with this.
I noticed you send personal e-mails when someone leaves a message so that’s what I did when you left a comment. However, I want to keep the conversation going here and I feel like if I answer everyone in private that parts lost.
I try to go back to posts I know I’ve left a comment on, but I don’t comment back.
It’s an interesting medium. Sometimes, I go to the person’s site and comment on something they wrote and also add my comment to their comment on my site.
My favorite is doing what I did here though.
Nneka
May 13th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
I’ve been trying to work this one out too, and at the moment I will reply on my site so that other people can see the dialogue, and I will ALSO copy and paste what I wrote into an email and send it to the commenter…
That way, they don’t have to check back to see my reply, and the other readers also get to see the reply.
It only takes a minute, thanks to copy & paste, and it’s working for me so far…
Many blessings,