day 12: stop counting likes

I used to obsess over how a blog performs.

Spending hours scrolling to see everyone who likes and shares. Celebrating the first 100 likes. Looking at Facebook statistics that have no meaning in my life.

I loved seeing these arbitrary numbers go up, like proof of my improvements, the validation I was addicted to, something tangible and measurable I could easily touch.

In those moments, I forgot that many important things in life are very hard to measure: happiness, growth, relationships…

The majority of your time as a blogger/writer/creator is making the thing, not watching how it performs.

If you put too much emphasis on counting the likes, shares, and comments, you’ll be missing out on the real fun of being a creator: the process of creating something of your own.

The second time doing a 30-day writing challenge, I have learned to ask more important questions than “How many reactions am I getting?”. Questions like:

• Am I learning something new?

• Are my thoughts becoming clearer?

• Am I changing in a good direction?

• Am I doing it with the people that energize me?

• For the people that appreciate my work?

To me, the answers to these questions are better measurements of success, not just in being a creator, but in being a human as well.

Have fun creating. Have fun living.