Hope for 2022

Dear Readers,

As the new year starts, I am starting on a new path.  I used the word hope in the title instead of expectations. Expectations are holding me back. I am letting go of expectations and following the path the universe has for me. I am relinquishing control.

I started this blog to show publishers that I have a voice and to make people think differently.  I started my public Instagram to show that I have followers and can sell books.  I also did it all to inspire and help people along the way.

The problem is, I stopped helping myself.  I became worried and anxious if I didn’t get the blog written each week.  I became obsessed with doing whatever it takes on social media to gain followers.  I compared myself to other accounts with thousands more.  I stopped taking care of myself, worried about everything else.

I can’t do that to myself anymore.  I don’t know what will happen with my book, but I have been too worried about doing all the right things that I am not focusing where I should.  I need to let it be; it will get published.  I may self publish at this point; I am also considering hybrid publishing.  But the bottom line is, the book is not done.  There are more chapters to be written, and it will all happen when the time is right.

I can’t control any of this.  The things I can control are how I treat myself and work on loving myself instead of trying to prove that I am perfect and can do everything for everyone else.  I am so concerned about doing things so that I can be seen and get published traditionally that it has really caused me to lose trust in myself or trust that any of it will ever happen. This all brings me down into a spiral of doubt and self-loathing.

I haven’t been in the best place this year, and I have been pretending for everyone else.  I wanted to show on the outside that everything is great, but I am feeling differently inside.  I have to change this narrative.  I have to focus on myself.

That all being said, I am continuing my blog, but only as it works for me.  It will not be weekly, it may not even be monthly.  It will be when I am inspired to write and when I find it fun, instead of feeling like it has to be every Sunday.  I love writing for you all, and I love inspiring, but I put too much pressure on myself.  This is supposed to be for fun, and I have lost that feeling sometimes. I am also lessening the effort I spend on @itsellenelizabeth. The obsession of gaining followers and pleasing everyone on social media has become detrimental.

My handle for Instagram will remain the same, and you can still expect inspiration, just not everyday. I will do it as I feel it is right. My blog will still be called the Weekly Whisper, and I hope you continue following!  Even without a weekly aspect to it, I will still write about what is on my heart and hope to help others. 

I love you all!

Ellen

“The past is gone.  Today is full of possibilities.  With each breath, I will be aware of the strength at hand.”

~Karen Casey in Each Day a New Beginning