Lately, I've been doing everything but writing. The majority of opportunities I have to write, I've been doing something other than writing.

I recently started learning a bit about Web Development, think HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Python. I want to build things on and for the internet with as much sovereignty and ownership from (centralized companies/entities) as possible.

And you know what, it's probably all a distraction.

Learning Web Development isn't a bad thing. It's a great thing. Being able to bring ideas to life in any capacity is a net positive. But, like my dad often says, there's a time and a place for everything. If it's neither the time nor the place, then it's probably a distraction.

Why do we distract ourselves, whether intentionally or unconsciously? Like most things, there are plenty of (potential) reasons or explanations. I'm going to focus on one common one: avoiding discomfort.

I'm likely not writing as much as I could or should because I'm not nearly as good as I used to be. I'm a bit out of practice. I haven't written and published consistently in about three years. It all feels a lot more difficult when before it didn't take much to get into a flow. Writing has become uncomfortable.

I often struggle with writing topics. What I do write rarely feels very good. Editing takes me a lot longer than it used to.

Because it's uncomfortable, I avoid it.

"I'll just journal for a few, instead"

"Let's check out a couple of articles for some 'inspiration.'"

"Aw shucks, I need more coffee."

And yet, the only way to overcome this pesky discomfort is through it. The answer to my writing problem is writing.

I'd guess you've found yourself in similar situations before, the thing you know you need to do ends up being the thing you most avoid. In my time as a coach, I found health and fitness was (and still is) that thing for A LOT of people. For others, it might be starting a new hobby or making new friends.

Whatever it is, the sooner we acknowledge the obstacle is the way, the better. The only path forward is through.

Here's what I'm working on to work through this. When I write, the words flow through me so, I envision a set of pipes. These pipes, because of years left unused, are filled with muck. For the "good" stuff to flow through again, I need to clear out the muck. The only way to get to "good" writing is to clear out the "bad" writing.

Even practiced writers acknowledge needing to do this each time they sit to write. It takes a bit for things to start flowing, similar to how it sometimes takes a bit for water from the faucet to warm. Now, imagine having three years of stagnation to work through.

I'm going what I can to "embrace the suck." I'm fine with that, despite my best efforts, this article isn't likely to be very good. The next probably won't be either. But, I'm going to publish them anyway. I know writers are supposed to write for the readers but these are for me. And heck, there's a good chance I am the only reader and I'm ok with that.

Each article I publish, no matter the objective or subjective quality, is progress in its own right. Each time I prevent distraction and discomfort from winning out the day is a win for me. And if my own history is any indication, the more I do this and the longer I do it, the better it should get.

Cover Image Photo by Galen Crout on Unsplash

Lately, I've been doing everything but writing. The majority of opportunities I have to write, I've been doing something other than writing.

I recently started learning a bit about Web Development, think HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Python. I want to build things on and for the internet with as much sovereignty and ownership from (centralized companies/entities) as possible.

And you know what, it's probably all a distraction.

Learning Web Development isn't a bad thing. It's a great thing. Being able to bring ideas to life in any capacity is a net positive. But, like my dad often says, there's a time and a place for everything. If it's neither the time nor the place, then it's probably a distraction.

Why do we distract ourselves, whether intentionally or unconsciously? Like most things, there are plenty of (potential) reasons or explanations. I'm going to focus on one common one: avoiding discomfort.

I'm likely not writing as much as I could or should because I'm not nearly as good as I used to be. I'm a bit out of practice. I haven't written and published consistently in about three years. It all feels a lot more difficult when before it didn't take much to get into a flow. Writing has become uncomfortable.

I often struggle with writing topics. What I do write rarely feels very good. Editing takes me a lot longer than it used to.

Because it's uncomfortable, I avoid it.

"I'll just journal for a few, instead"

"Let's check out a couple of articles for some 'inspiration.'"

"Aw shucks, I need more coffee."

And yet, the only way to overcome this pesky discomfort is through it. The answer to my writing problem is writing.

I'd guess you've found yourself in similar situations before, the thing you know you need to do ends up being the thing you most avoid. In my time as a coach, I found health and fitness was (and still is) that thing for A LOT of people. For others, it might be starting a new hobby or making new friends.

Whatever it is, the sooner we acknowledge the obstacle is the way, the better. The only path forward is through.

Here's what I'm working on to work through this. When I write, the words flow through me so, I envision a set of pipes. These pipes, because of years left unused, are filled with muck. For the "good" stuff to flow through again, I need to clear out the muck. The only way to get to "good" writing is to clear out the "bad" writing.

Even practiced writers acknowledge needing to do this each time they sit to write. It takes a bit for things to start flowing, similar to how it sometimes takes a bit for water from the faucet to warm. Now, imagine having three years of stagnation to work through.

I'm going what I can to "embrace the suck." I'm fine with that, despite my best efforts, this article isn't likely to be very good. The next probably won't be either. But, I'm going to publish them anyway. I know writers are supposed to write for the readers but these are for me. And heck, there's a good chance I am the only reader and I'm ok with that.

Each article I publish, no matter the objective or subjective quality, is progress in its own right. Each time I prevent distraction and discomfort from winning out the day is a win for me. And if my own history is any indication, the more I do this and the longer I do it, the better it should get.

Cover Image Photo by Galen Crout on Unsplash