I enjoy writing. Whenever I write, I find that I am forced to flesh out my ideas, making them clearer. Writing is also incredibly cathartic, allowing me to express my thoughts and feelings about a given subject. I can logically order the jumbled mess inside my head. I have never undertaken a writing endeavor and regretted it (barring some particularly dreadful undergrad classes). If that’s the case, why don’t I write more often? My writing portfolio, which is limited to text messages and school papers, is embarrassingly small.
I’ve realized that there are two answers to that question. First, I thrive on deadlines and consequences. This is probably true for a lot of people; give me a prompt at 10 pm with a midnight deadline and I can churn out something pretty fast and painlessly. But, if I tell myself that I’m going to commit to writing 500 words a day, words that no one else will see and nothing bad will happen if I don’t write them, I’ll write 250 words on the first day before throwing my hands up and going on a YouTube binge. If I want to write more, I need deadlines.
Second, I don’t do well with criticism. Specifically, I’m terrified of public disapproval. I am afraid that I am not a particularly good or compelling writer and that publicizing things I’ve written will confirm those anxieties. I am afraid that broadcasting my writing will lower my esteem in the eyes of readers. I’ve convinced myself that I’ve gotten this far in my life without publicizing my writing, so there’s no reason to start now. But this kind of thinking stagnates growth. Feedback is essential to improvement. If I want to become a better writer, I need to publish what I’m writing.
So, the idea of this blog was born. I think publicly committing myself to consistently writing will tackle both of these issues. Public commitment can be my deadline. Hopefully the fear of not following through after announcing that I’m starting this project will be enough to keep me going. And, having a dedicated space where I publish my writings can make it easier for anyone who is interested to read my content and provide feedback.
James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, has a principle that I’ve found to be incredibly useful: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” When starting a new habit, be it dieting or studying, the first few days typically go pretty well. But people tend to quickly regress back to their starting point. Relying on sheer will to instill a habit is rarely successful. But creating a system – no longer buying unhealthy food or temporarily blocking distracting websites – can go a long way in cementing that habit. The system holds you up the days you aren’t feeling motivated enough to follow through.
I want this blog to serve as my system. Going from barely writing to writing a piece every week is audacious. But, having a weekly deadline can carry me through bouts of procrastination and writer’s block. It can also ensure that I’m not paralyzed by the fear of imperfection, that I’m pushing submit and letting go.
I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to write about. As of now, I envision this to be a place where I explore ideas or conversations that I’ve come across or participated in. Maybe I’ll stumble upon an interesting YouTube video and go down a Wikipedia rabbit hole and then use this as a space to further explore what I found interesting. Or maybe I’ll read a fascinating book and flesh out the ideas that particularly resonated with me.
I hope to discover – and share – as I go along.
Interested?
I’d love to email you whenever I have a new post.
Waleed's Blog 