After my streak of 2.5 weeks or so of daily writing the whole purpose of this blog started to pay off.
- I had no problem in starting to write even though I didn't think the post completely through.
- Still, I always had many topics in mind, as I began to pay more attention to my thoughts and being able to formulate them more clearly. Especially, as I also took time during the day to stop and think.
- Writing had a priority and I always took the time, even though when it was already late, instead of just taking the easy path and heading to bed directly.
Now, two months after I stopped, it feels harder and the effects have been gone almost entirely. I feel a higher barrier of starting. I somehow give it a higher importance that this has to be great, since it is a blog post that will go out to the world. Before, I managed to write just for writing, the process of expressing my thoughts. Now it is kind of back to the level of that it needs to be right, well thought through because I feel vulnerable. (Yes, another benefit was that I also began to associate myself and be honest with my feelings. Because that is just how I feel and I shouldn't feel ashamed by it, but rather acknowledge them and where they are coming from. Plus, not only expressing them in my mind, on this blog, but also other people and not being afraid of how another person would think.)
Being right should not be the goal. That's why I am right now happy to overcome this hurdle. Writing is just a valuable tool (just like yoga, going for a walk or many others are) and I want to have the habit back. Even though calling it habit - on base of having it done for 2.5 weeks - is a too strong word. But experiencing that the positive effects of it disappear so fast, makes me want to dive into it again even more.
This also applies for so many other parts in one's life. Sports, eating healthy, meeting with friends and so forth. Habits take time to be entirely internalized. And even then there is a chance of falling back to old habits when not being aware of it. Consistency is the key. You don't start by breaking a behavior when you don't follow it once. But as soon as it is more than one time, then the break starts. Stay consistent and you will see the benefits appearing.
Progress follows consistency.