Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
A couple of months ago I ended a relationship with someone whom I loved dearly. As much as I'd have liked things to continue, it had to end, and what more, in a rather ugly and dramatic manner.
As a result, I was emotionally drained. I was very tired.
I decided to drop everything I was doing. I stopped writing on my blog. I stopped emailing my list. I even stopped seeking answers to whatever I thought I was feeling (because don't we all Google for whatever possible solutions we can find?)
And it was a good break. Call it a sabbatical even. It gave me the answers I needed.
You'll be surprised at what you can learn about yourself and whatever it is you're doing when you simply stop.
1) Sometimes the answer comes out of nowhere through a feeling
I honestly didn't know how long my hiatus was going to be. I didn't want to know or feel anything.
Yet, I knew I had to start writing again a couple of weeks ago. It was a feeling that told me it was the right thing to do.
I couldn't really explain it, but I knew I was ready.
It sounds cheesy, but it's this feeling that fills you with inspiration. That's what you need: an inspired feeling. After all, it'd be hard to sustain yourself if it's going to be a meaningless grind only.
2) Inspiration can come from other sources
During my break, I read a lot. And no, I didn't read blogs or how-to-write-and-make-money articles.
I read my favorite fiction books.
And it worked. The stories from my favorite authors gave me an intangible gift that can't be learnt conventionally.
This is very powerful. Sometimes, you can't really get the answers or inspiration, and hence progress you seek from doing the work itself.
Sometimes you have to look elsewhere to remind yourself why you're doing what you're doing.
3)People do love you and cherish you
I announced my hiatus to my readers and I got an influx of support. Readers were writing in to ask how I was and all.
I was very touched.
For whatever reason at at times you feel lonely, unappreciated or even depressed, always remember that there're people who care for you.
When you go missing, people do wonder where you are. When you stop showing up, people do worry. And eventually, they'll miss you.
You're never alone. Never forget that.
4) It's fun to do whatever it is you want
And that includes lazing around doing nothing.
This may sound obvious enough, but how many of us have had taken a REAL break from everything just so we can be ourselves?
I went back to reading, playing video games, meeting my friends and practicing my craft as a Bboy almost everyday.
Learning and growing aside, it was fun.
When was the last time you remembered to have fun? Sorry, but taking leave from work to go on vacation and then think about work doesn't count.
5) Work still does make life meaningful
I can't deny that on certain days that I felt completely aimless and unaccomplished in life.
Sure, I could do whatever it is I wanted, but they felt undeserved and even pointless.
I started thinking about how I'd appreciate my days in full when I had a really productive one.
As much as you don't want to admit it, the work does make life meaningful. You've to know a break is a break in the first place and you can't know that unless you did some work.
6) You need to get back to the heart and soul of your work
One thing that really drained me back then is that I was very tired thinking of how to make money and generate high readership for my blog.
I was always concerned on the result. I practically forgot that I loved writing.
During my hiatus, I learnt that chasing the results will rarely ever result in you getting them.
And this is a lesson I managed to gather from not doing the work. I gathered inspiration elsewhere instead.
The chase for things and results usually make for a tiring life. It's best to simply remember why you do what you do and do things for the love of it. Others will then recognize that love and start giving you what you seek.
7) Above all else, remember to love yourself
You gotta love yourself man.
You're a special soul.
I know. Life gets in the way sometimes and our mind starts to focus on other things. We end up in worry, sadness and other undesirable feelings.
So that's why you need to remember you deserve love and happiness.
Start by taking a break. Go on hiatus. Chill out. Relax. Breathe.
Then love yourself.
Special bonus for Pick The Brain Readers
I hope you enjoyed the article!
To say thanks for reading it, I’m going to let you in on my new book. It’s free! I teach you how to love yourself in it!
12 Things Happy People Don’t Give a F**K About!
Time to shed the crap in life and start being happy! This free book is available through this link to Alden Tan.
Alden Tan keeps it real at his blog and writes about motivation in unconventional ways. His two main passions are Bboying and writing. Check out his free report, 12 Things Happy People Don’t Give a F**k About!
The post 7 Things I Learned From Dropping it All and Going On Hiatus appeared first on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement.