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A New Perspective

After stepping away from blogging for a bit, I gained clarity and a renewed perspective for moving forward in the direction that feels right to me.

If you read my previous post, then you know I took a break from writing new posts to fix up previous posts from my earlier days of blogging (say that 3 times fast)! I’m happy to say I’m almost through the list, and can’t wait to focus on what’s to come. Bring on spring!

Succulent

Sometimes taking a step back is what we need to move forward. Although last year brought about many positive changes, the road getting there was one of the toughest I’ve traveled yet. Along the way I wished so many times for a better set of circumstances, but the changes didn’t come as quickly as I would’ve liked. They usually never do, right?

Thankfully, my faith is strong enough to know “this too shall pass” during difficult phases. Like many, I’ve had enough practice. Even though times can be challenging, I believe our hardships are there to teach us lessons and, if we listen closely, guide us in the direction that feels right. Sometimes all we need is a good helping of patience (and a little Ben & Jerry’s doesn’t seem to hurt either).

Take that itchy sweater off.

I once heard someone say life is like a sweater. When you’re on the right path, that sweater is warm and comfy and fits just right. Then one day you put it on and it feels a bit scratchy. Eventually, you can’t get it off fast enough. The problem is you haven’t found the right one to replace it yet, so you feel a bit exposed.

Taking time to pause and reflect over the past few months has allowed me to figure out some of the “itchy sweater” aspects of my life. More importantly, I’ve been able to develop insight into what led me there in the first place. I have more clarity.

To sum it all up, I didn’t stay in my lane.

What does that even mean?

In the fast-paced world of blogging and social media, where “likes” and “shares” are better than sliced bread to many, it’s easy to get swept up in it all.

Time spent using our God-given talents creating and inspiring is somehow replaced with tasks like determining when the best time to post to Facebook is or which boards yield the most repins on Pinterest.

Can’t I just post and pin when I feel inspired to do so?

Then there’s the fear of missing out (FOMO), where we sign up for webinars so we can find out what we MUST be doing to become a successful blogger.

I have to post 5 days a week? I have to spend hours and hours promoting on numerous social media channels? I have to…

And let’s not forget to mention the comparison trap we tend to get caught up in.

Her house is so beautiful and she always looks flawless and did you see the photos from the vacation she just went on?

You start to over-think. You start to question everything. It all gets way too darn complicated.

Ugh!

Call it “grass is greener on the other side of the fence” or “shiny object” syndrome or a combination of the two. Any way you slice it, it takes us away from our own sweet spot.

When too many people get lost in it, too much starts to look the same. Just take a look on Pinterest.

Isn’t being different a good thing?

Taking time away gave me a new perspective.

Put energy into the things that matter to you, not what someone else tells you to do. The latter will burn you out. It started to burn me out.

Get back to what inspired you to start a blog in the first place.

I admire bloggers like Kate and Nester for being able to block out the noise and stay connected to their readers.

Call me old-fashioned, but I’m someone who still values authentic connection.

Remember the days when we left heart-felt comments on blogs and shared our favourite posts to say, “Look at what my friend created. Isn’t she talented?”

Are those days gone? Is it only about hearts and likes? Is our success measured by reach alone? I hope not.

What I’ve come to realize is it’s best to stay on my own path.

If that means shutting the computer down when my husband gets home from work so we can cook a meal together, so be it. Or if my son calls and I’m in the middle of a project, I’m going to pick up even if it means an hour of English paper help. I believe you would want me to. The post can wait.

Family is Everything

I’m not afraid of change if it’s the right change.

Sometimes it takes dipping our toes in the water first to know if something’s right. That may mean bumps along the road, but that’s okay.

That thing your blogger friend is doing may just not be for you. Do what your gut tells you.

Try new things.

Who knows, I may even start a YouTube channel. Doubt it, but never say never.

What I won’t try is putting that itchy sweater back on.

So, what does this all mean?

Moving forward, what I choose to share on this blog will only be those things that feel right to ME. It’s not to say past posts have been inauthentic or forced, not at all. The difference is I now have a deeper understanding of who I am and feel I can convey that much better. I believe you’ll start to see that over time.

Sure, I may have to turn down more sponsored opportunities, but that’s okay. I believe the ones I’m truly excited about will be those that resonate with you anyway. Other opportunities will come my way.

There may be some sporadic weeks when the blog is quiet. (I’m still working on letting go of that guilt.) I’m all about quality over quantity.

I want to blog about what I’m doing. The blog shouldn’t be my life.

If you miss me, you can probably see what I’m up to on Instagram or Facebook. Not always. Sometimes, I need to take pause from that social media stuff too.

And you can always subscribe to my newsletter (which will be seeing its own fair share of changes). There’s a whole bunch of spring cleaning going on around here.

I’m curious to know, as a blogger or reader, what’s making your sweater itch these days? Have you started making any changes of your own?

Have a lovely day!

Shauna at Satori Design for Living Blog - Home Decor, DIY, Vintage Finds, Recipes

28 Comments

  1. And everybody says “AMEN”!! Yes to this! YES YES YES!!! Yes to following your own path, yes to authenticity, yes to priorities that don’t include a bazillion and one blog tasks. I love it!

    Those moments of clarity sometimes never come to some people, and they continue down this road of always doing, never accomplishing. It’s a thing of beauty when you get back to the joy of creating for the sake of creating – not because you feel obligated.

    So proud of you for taking time off to make some changes. :0

    1. Yes, the “joy of creating” can definitely become diminished when you think about the “bazillion and one blog tasks.” Thanks for your words of encouragement. It’s comforting to know there are others who feel the same way.

  2. Good for you Shauna, for doing what feels right for you and your family. It’s easy to get trapped in the fast lane and scared to stop and change directions and slow down. Just put it out there and ask the Universe for what you want and it will come to you. I look forward to the future with you, however and whenever you choose to share it.
    Sending Love & Light ??

    1. Yes, it’s difficult for someone like me to slow down. But, as you know, time is so precious and you start to realize if you don’t create the life you want, who will? What worked before perhaps doesn’t anymore. It’s difficult to explain, but we grow, evolve and change on the inside and we have to make sure it matches on the outside.
      Thanks for being part of my journey. I appreciate you very much <3

  3. Yes Shauna, that itchy sweater has no place. Time to be moved OUT! It will fit someone else just fine. I love the pic of you on your path – no words necessary! xo

    1. Thanks Sheila. Yes, that photo is definitely one of my favourites of our family. I had it blown up in black & white printed on canvas. Love it every time I see it hanging in our family room.

  4. Aw Shauna! Right now my sweater feels fine, it’s Winter and it’s much warmer in front of a computer. I know when the days get longer I don’t need that heavy sweater but it’s always there. It’s all about balance isn’t it? I hope you find your perfect fit and do what makes YOU happy. Hugs and take care!

    1. Thank you Heather. I guess we all have times in our lives when we need to make some changes. Happy to hear things are feeling right for you these days as I know you’ve had some of your own challenges. Enjoy your weekend!

  5. <3 !! Great post. I can totally relate to this. I've been blogging for years. Y.e.a.r.s and the last few have really stressed me out to the point I was ready to just quit. I was feeling so uninspired.
    so instead I made a decision – much like yours.. No more stress. No hurrying allowed. No more rushing to get posts out. No more sponsored posts (unless I really, really wanted to do it) Just write when I felt like it. And if I didn't, I didn't. And ironically, I've been more productive than I have been in a very long time.

  6. This is the way to do it. I know blogging can seem like a rat race but those are the moments to step away, regroup and decide to come back or not. Good for you for keeping it all in perspective. That’s hard to do sometimes in the race for hits. I always find when I’m blogging like no one is reading, I love it more. And, it seems, so do any readers I have.

    1. So true. I didn’t want to get so far down the wrong road that I couldn’t find my way back. I’ve seen this far too many time with bloggers (and others). Although, perhaps the rat race is working for them, not sure. Enjoy your weekend!

  7. I just posted something a little similar today. It seems that many of us are trying to find that passion for blogging again and share a truly authentic part of ourselves. Thank you for sharing your struggle with this and choosing the harder path of staying true to why you want to keep blogging.

  8. So well written, Shauna, YES to everything you said! I love the photo of you with your family. I’m finding that too, I need to keep checking in on the priorities…they change, we change… Will be here to keep reading whatever you post!
    xo

    1. Thanks Andrea. I know you were struggling with whether or not to keep blogging and I’m so glad you chose to move forward. I always enjoy seeing what you’re up to and think you’ve done a great job of staying true to yourself and not getting lost in the chaos.

  9. Great post! It brought tears to my eyes because as a blogger, I have felt, and still feel, those things. It’s not easy, but I too have made a few changes and decided that I can’t do more than I can do, and in the end, my health has to come first. Kind of a sad reality we live in, in this crazy online world, huh? We are so connected, and yet disconnected at the same time. xo

    1. You hit the nail on the head. It’s about getting our priorities in place and checking in once in awhile to see if things are still working. I’m happy for you that you’ve made some changes. Here’s to making some deeper connections with ourselves and others!

  10. I LOVE the sweater example! I am in the itchy sweater phase, where things aren’t feeling quite right. It’s funny how something you love can evolve into something that brings stress, anxiety or frustration. I’m glad that you’re making changes to make blogging enjoyable for you again, good luck!

    1. If you take the time to reflect you will definitely get the answers you’re looking for to remove that itchy sweater. Of course, these changes never happen as quickly as we’d like, but I feel it’s important to figure these things out. Good luck with your journey!

  11. I LOVE every word of this inspiring post.
    You said it all and you said it perfectly!
    I am so looking forward to what you share moving forward and if you don’t share I will be smiling knowing it is because you are enjoying other aspects of your beautiful well rounded life!! Bravo!!

  12. Oh how I can relate! I took off my itchy sweater last week and had to say no to a few things that I already committed to, and was actually excited about, but they just weren’t pushing me in the right direction. It was really hard, as there were no logical explanations, just gut feelings that I couldn’t really explain. I’ve also purged older posts and IG photos that were no longer fitting and it was all so liberating. I’m with you on letting go of schedule expectations and allowing the blog to evolve along with us. Absolute freedom is the most incredible thing about blogging and it’s such a shame to sometimes feel like we need to conform. We don’t :) Big virtual hug to you for following your own path and intuition and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes you.

    1. I think the key part is listening to your gut as you mentioned. I, too, turned down what seemed to be a big opportunity a few weeks ago. At first I second-guessed my decision, but now I’m so glad I took the time off to gather my thoughts. What I “should do” is now replaced with what I “want to do” and it’s so liberating. Thanks for stopping by to share your words of wisdom!

  13. Amen!
    I’ve been blogging in some form or other since 2003/2004. And the beginning of 2015 I just said “enough!”. I didn’t enjoy it anymore and I took a big step back and realized what my blog had become was so far removed from what I ever wanted it to be. So I just stopped everything and did pretty much what you’re doing right now. If it resonated with me, I blogged about it. I went back to my blog being my creative outlet. And now, just over a year later, I am SO MUCH HAPPIER. I could care less about traffic, social shares or any of that. I’m just back to having my little space on the internet that’s just for me. If other people like it too, that’s great! If they don’t, it doesn’t matter.

    Good luck with your changes – I really hope (and believe) you’ll be so much happier!

    1. As I’ve been going through old posts, I realized my voice began to change over time. Newer posts looked more polished, but in some cases, they started to lose their personality. That’s the part I want to get back to. I love how you say “creative outlet” as that’s why I started my blog in the first place. I’m delighted for you that you’ve found your passion again. And I bet more and more people will be inspired by your blog as your happiness shines through. I also want to say I’m thrilled to be part of FBC. I’ve been able to connect with so many talented and wonderful people, so thanks!

  14. We’ve been blogging nearly a year now and have to admit there are so many things about it that we had no idea about. We’re hoping to find the balance between staying authentic and feeling pressured to do what we “should”. We’d love to get to a point where pageviews don’t matter, and think there is a shift in that direction. For example, having 100 engaged, happy and loyal followers of your style, values, products is much more valuable than a 10000 handles. Thank you so much for the reflections and we’re looking forward to seeing all your re-energized creations!

    1. I’m so on board with having “engaged, happy and loyal followers of your style…” rather than trying to conform to something you’re not. People eventually see through that anyway. I’m blessed to have an amazing Satori community. Some have been with me since the beginning. I enjoy reading their comments and getting their emails, as well as seeing those from the newcomers who stop in to say, “Hey, I like what you’re doing here!” It definitely puts wind under my sails.
      Good luck with your journey. I remember what it was like to hit the one year mark. Times are so different now than back then, but you also have new opportunities that weren’t even a “thing” until recently.

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