Jennie, this is spot on for me this week. I’ve confessed in my most recent post that I need to “press pause” for a bit. I have been thinking 24X7 about my newsletter, in addition to continually revising and tweaking each essay to make it “perfect.” Ugh, exhausting. Too much “thinking” turns into soul sucking rather than soul expanding.
Very well put. Overthinking definitely dwindles energy levels and takes away from the creative process. I find that even when I'm revising material, if I over-edit, I take the fire out of that first draft. It's a delicate dance.
This: “I wanted to be the person who sits in the back and says nothing.” Resonates so much with me, especially in my day job where I’m often the person who has the institutional memory, knows how things work, steps up, etc. And yet, as you point out, when we try to back off and find space for rest we still end up being, well, ourselves. Not sure I have any ideal solutions either but it’s good to notice and reflect on these tendencies.
Wow, Jennie, thank you so much for your openness and honesty in sharing. It has given me things to think about in my own life. Your final question is one I do need to really think about. Who am I without x,y, and z? Thank you!
And, Happy 35th Anniversary to you and your husband!! (My husband and I recently celebrated 25!)
Jennie, this is spot on for me this week. I’ve confessed in my most recent post that I need to “press pause” for a bit. I have been thinking 24X7 about my newsletter, in addition to continually revising and tweaking each essay to make it “perfect.” Ugh, exhausting. Too much “thinking” turns into soul sucking rather than soul expanding.
Very well put. Overthinking definitely dwindles energy levels and takes away from the creative process. I find that even when I'm revising material, if I over-edit, I take the fire out of that first draft. It's a delicate dance.
So true!
This: “I wanted to be the person who sits in the back and says nothing.” Resonates so much with me, especially in my day job where I’m often the person who has the institutional memory, knows how things work, steps up, etc. And yet, as you point out, when we try to back off and find space for rest we still end up being, well, ourselves. Not sure I have any ideal solutions either but it’s good to notice and reflect on these tendencies.
Sigh.... we can't take a vacation from ourselves....
Wow, Jennie, thank you so much for your openness and honesty in sharing. It has given me things to think about in my own life. Your final question is one I do need to really think about. Who am I without x,y, and z? Thank you!
And, Happy 35th Anniversary to you and your husband!! (My husband and I recently celebrated 25!)
Yay to 25! And thank you for your kind words.
Yes it's hard to read when you have to. Tough to do anything when you have to : )
Thank you for being so open and vulnerable in articulating this, Jennie. It's illuminates a key area of opportunity for all of us who do this work.
I love that -- an area of opportunity!
Thanks for sharing this Jennie. You kind of held up a mirror. Congratulations on your brand new niece!
All work all the time! Whew!