Comments on: Popularity vs. Purpose: Following Your Internal Nudges

By: DC

DC — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:46:01 +0000

This is an incredibly insightful post. I used to blog for validation, but I’ve found I can now handle increasing popularity because I’m not bothered by the comments and the interest. I’ve managed to keep a set of blinkers on that allows me to connect with people who read, while still maintaining the essence of what blogging is to me now – a kind of confessional of sorts, an exploration of my progress.

By: Liv

Liv — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 21:55:05 +0000

Oh boy, I am internally nodding my head vigorously in agreement with your thoughts. I struggle with these things too. It is nice to see these ideas in print because sometimes my feelings about writing in public and creating crafts/art just become muddled in my mind and I can’t grasp them to expose them to the light of day. I am glad you were intrinsically motivated to share this today.

By: Diana

Diana — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:10:43 +0000

Thanks Emma, I got an email with a new comment here, reread your post, and it allowed me to go add a new post without self-consciousness. I even typed it right into the software without thinking or editing too much. Very freeing. Thanks!

By: Emma

Emma — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:31:25 +0000

Heya folks, thanks for reading/commenting.

@Joely, I like the word “confessional”, sometimes it feels like that too. =)

@Diana I almost went down that road a few times, but luckily I found it boring. =) And discouraging. Either it wouldn’t go up enough, or it would go down a little, or whatever, and I’d be like ‘awww’.

Maybe you could try giving yourself a limit, say once a week, or whatever would be a lot less than right now. And then see if you miss it.

Yeah, the self-consciousness thing gets me too.

If I’m writing out of mixed motivation, if I’m not writing out of intrinsic motivation, out of an internal nudge, it seems like I question my writing a lot more. I wonder anxiously if people will like it (because that’s partly why I wrote it, duh).

Whereas if I write from a nudge, I’m just happy to have written it. It doesn’t really matter what people say about it, because I know it’s good, it’s from my heart. And then comments are enjoyable, instead of being an indicator of the value of what I wrote.

When I write from a nudge and people comment, it’s like they are also looking at what came through me and saying ‘all right!’ … just like I am. So we are on the same side, marveling at this cool thought I had.

Whereas if I wrote in order to get something back, it feels like I am holding something out and they are looking at it and me and evaluating it. It’s anxiety-producing.

Of course on their end they probably don’t notice, but my internal experience is very different.

@Roger Ooh yeah, I like that shoelace idea -> next time I can’t tie some thoughts together I’ll check in on my motivation. =)

By: Roger

Roger — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:03:43 +0000

What a great insight!

I began blogging for much the same reason. There was a lack of an outlet for the ideas clanking around in my skull leaving me with a lot of headaches

I love your description of the conflict between intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation. At one level, my ego desires positive feedback yet without the deeply personal nudges, I’d have trouble tying two thoughts together with a shoelace.

I am looking forward to reading more of your thoughts.

Namaste

By: Diana

Diana — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 04:14:30 +0000

Totally what I’ve been dealing with lately. I have become a stat-aholic.
I know what you’re saying is true, and I’ve known it all along but I can’t help myself. Is there a treatment for stat-aholism? Or do I have to go cold turkey? I do have to check for comments because I love to reply, but I could do without the stat-checking. There are never enough hits, or there are one day but the feeling leaves almost immediately.

That isn’t why I started a blog. I needed to get out of my head (I am so isolated) so I put it down on my blog.

I also think stat-checking causes me to be self-conscious about what I write.

By: Joely Black

Joely Black — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:10:40 +0000