Satya, I had a bit of a chuckle (for both of us) after reading this piece from you. No, I assure you that I definitely won't unsubscribe if you write less often. The chuckle comes from the recognition that I am feeling a bit of overwhelm associated with the volume of your excellent sharing! So much resonates with me and provides me with excellent prompts. I feel overwhelmed by my desire to spend so much time in reflection and to respond to you and others' comments. Then, I catch myself with the irony that this is all about Going Gently. In fact, in writing this I have lost track of time and am frantically late for my next commitment. Thanks for the opportunity to remember the foolish being that I am.
Lynn - SO grateful for your take on this which also made me laugh out loud (humans eh?!) and helped point me in a new direction for my Friday messages - it feels really good and so I am so glad you wrote. And maybe we can both keep an eye on the craziness that is Going Gently sucking too much time - from you or me!! 😂
As ever, I loved this piece and I’ve appreciated the comments, too. I am planning to set up a Substack (or two?) this month and this has helped my rumination over how much I can and should commit to.
I’m about to take a couple of weeks off, first a holiday then a retreat. I usually send out two newsletters a week, one is the Sunday round up, the other something more considered for paid subscribers. I didn’t want to miss all 4.
My solution is to send out nothing on my retreat week. Then on my holiday week I’m going to crowd source the Sunday round up and people can share something they find inspiring. For my paid subscribers I’m planning a holiday postcard!
I was happy with that. Keeping a little continuity but in a very doable way.
Definitely take breaks. Do subscribers even notice? But also add in some easy weeks. Like a postcard. Or an informal voice note. Enjoy your break! 🍁
Triratna folk are GREAT at taking retreats - and holidays also so important - so happy that you are getting both. Love those ideas - and yes you're right 99% of subscribers would have no idea, and the one that did would probably just be checking that I was okay 😂 hope you have/had a lovely fortnight and thanks for being here 🙏🏻
I found it ironic that as I was finishing my post on the importance of a periodic escape, via flight, you were addressing the same thing from a different angle. We so often get on the roller coaster and can't get off, due to the "oughta's", and I have something else to gives - in our lives. For those interested in a parallel universe, consider https://markvanlaeys.substack.com/p/flying-a-metaphor-for-life
I'm so glad and grateful to see this from you, Satya. I definitely struggle with those feelings, though I have gotten better at recognizing them and caring for myself.
I really value when other creators are open about taking time to care for themselves in whatever way nourishes them. I think you can see the difference in the way their work resonates with people.
Thanks A - that's really helpful to hear (and also true for me). It still takes a little leap of faith to trust that most people will feel that way (or to remember that even if they don't, it's still important to offer what is sustainable). Hurray for getting better at caring for ourselves!
As a subscriber to maybe a couple too many Substacks, I can tell you that I prefer when writers write when they have something to say, whether that's once a day or once a month. My subscription choices are based on quality, resonance, and engagement, not quantity or regularity.
Thanks John that's really helpful to read - the kind of thing I know but forget - especially when it applies to me. Quality over quantity EVERY time. Always happy to have you here and good luck in taking your own advice - an advanced practice (in my experience at least! 😉)
I've come to realize that it can be exhausting to experience such intense emotions in this challenging world and it's even more frustrating when you have to suppress them because others may have it worse. It's draining to constantly be mindful of how others feel when all you really want is to express yourself freely.
I've attended numerous retreats in the past, but I now understand that I was attempting to evade confronting my fears. However, I now believe that we can demonstrate our strength and offer support to ourselves by treating others with kindness and compassion.
I remain hopeful that one day, all the difficulties we face will eventually subside.
Yes, experiencing intense emotion is really exhausting... sorry to hear about your experiences with that and with holding emotion in. Here's to the easing of all difficulties over time... thanks for being here 🙏🏻
As ever, your writing speaks to a truth that resonates deeply with me and I think your plan to take more more breaks and prioritise rest offers the kind of modelling that is at the heart of why I love your offerings, so thank you Satya 🙏. In my own life, I've been thinking a lot about shame and how, for me, it is such a driver of my insatiable need to be "doing" and burning out my already-strained nervous system. I'm thinking of how I can works with these parts more intentionally as a way to find some release from it's tight grip. Taking breaks is a part of this ongoing work.
Thanks Helen that's helpful to hear. And oh yes, shame!!! I tend to see this is the most difficult burden our parts carry - we'll do almost anything to avoid it... good luck with gently offering them attention. See you soon!
Tell me: Do you feel unworthy of breaks? Do you feel unworthy of other things? Do you know why? What beliefs do your young parts hold about you or the world? What is the consequence of you not doing or receiving or asking for the things you feel unworthy of? Under which circumstances are you most likely to flourish? How could you work towards making that happen? What one thing might you do this week?
Thanks for this post, Satya. Thought-provoking as ever. I don't think I feel unworthy. But there's a part of me that thinks if I don't work, then financial disaster awaits. The joy of the self-employed! Being homeless feeds into that too I think. I don't feel secure enough. I need to give myself a retreat day a month to focus just on my fiction. Feel free to ask me in a few weeks if I have done it or not!
Yes that makes total sense as a holding-you-back belief and it's harder when they are also connected with potential reality... good luck with that day a month - sounds like just what you need!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💙
Thank you - received!
Satya, I had a bit of a chuckle (for both of us) after reading this piece from you. No, I assure you that I definitely won't unsubscribe if you write less often. The chuckle comes from the recognition that I am feeling a bit of overwhelm associated with the volume of your excellent sharing! So much resonates with me and provides me with excellent prompts. I feel overwhelmed by my desire to spend so much time in reflection and to respond to you and others' comments. Then, I catch myself with the irony that this is all about Going Gently. In fact, in writing this I have lost track of time and am frantically late for my next commitment. Thanks for the opportunity to remember the foolish being that I am.
Lynn - SO grateful for your take on this which also made me laugh out loud (humans eh?!) and helped point me in a new direction for my Friday messages - it feels really good and so I am so glad you wrote. And maybe we can both keep an eye on the craziness that is Going Gently sucking too much time - from you or me!! 😂
Hi Satya
As ever, I loved this piece and I’ve appreciated the comments, too. I am planning to set up a Substack (or two?) this month and this has helped my rumination over how much I can and should commit to.
Thank you.
Hi Julia lovely to have you here & VERY exciting about your new Substack/s - do let me know when you do!! Sending love from Malvern _/\_
Will do. And thank you. xx
I’m about to take a couple of weeks off, first a holiday then a retreat. I usually send out two newsletters a week, one is the Sunday round up, the other something more considered for paid subscribers. I didn’t want to miss all 4.
My solution is to send out nothing on my retreat week. Then on my holiday week I’m going to crowd source the Sunday round up and people can share something they find inspiring. For my paid subscribers I’m planning a holiday postcard!
I was happy with that. Keeping a little continuity but in a very doable way.
Definitely take breaks. Do subscribers even notice? But also add in some easy weeks. Like a postcard. Or an informal voice note. Enjoy your break! 🍁
Triratna folk are GREAT at taking retreats - and holidays also so important - so happy that you are getting both. Love those ideas - and yes you're right 99% of subscribers would have no idea, and the one that did would probably just be checking that I was okay 😂 hope you have/had a lovely fortnight and thanks for being here 🙏🏻
Hear, hear!
Thank you for the inspiration for this post 😊
I found it ironic that as I was finishing my post on the importance of a periodic escape, via flight, you were addressing the same thing from a different angle. We so often get on the roller coaster and can't get off, due to the "oughta's", and I have something else to gives - in our lives. For those interested in a parallel universe, consider https://markvanlaeys.substack.com/p/flying-a-metaphor-for-life
Thanks for sharing Mark. Here's to occasional flight!!
I'm so glad and grateful to see this from you, Satya. I definitely struggle with those feelings, though I have gotten better at recognizing them and caring for myself.
I really value when other creators are open about taking time to care for themselves in whatever way nourishes them. I think you can see the difference in the way their work resonates with people.
Thanks A - that's really helpful to hear (and also true for me). It still takes a little leap of faith to trust that most people will feel that way (or to remember that even if they don't, it's still important to offer what is sustainable). Hurray for getting better at caring for ourselves!
I struggle with taking breaks too.
As a subscriber to maybe a couple too many Substacks, I can tell you that I prefer when writers write when they have something to say, whether that's once a day or once a month. My subscription choices are based on quality, resonance, and engagement, not quantity or regularity.
Just don't ask me if I follow my own advice!
Thanks John that's really helpful to read - the kind of thing I know but forget - especially when it applies to me. Quality over quantity EVERY time. Always happy to have you here and good luck in taking your own advice - an advanced practice (in my experience at least! 😉)
That is all so true - especially the part regarding following one's own advice. In my own defense, on a good day, I do.
I've come to realize that it can be exhausting to experience such intense emotions in this challenging world and it's even more frustrating when you have to suppress them because others may have it worse. It's draining to constantly be mindful of how others feel when all you really want is to express yourself freely.
I've attended numerous retreats in the past, but I now understand that I was attempting to evade confronting my fears. However, I now believe that we can demonstrate our strength and offer support to ourselves by treating others with kindness and compassion.
I remain hopeful that one day, all the difficulties we face will eventually subside.
Yes, experiencing intense emotion is really exhausting... sorry to hear about your experiences with that and with holding emotion in. Here's to the easing of all difficulties over time... thanks for being here 🙏🏻
As ever, your writing speaks to a truth that resonates deeply with me and I think your plan to take more more breaks and prioritise rest offers the kind of modelling that is at the heart of why I love your offerings, so thank you Satya 🙏. In my own life, I've been thinking a lot about shame and how, for me, it is such a driver of my insatiable need to be "doing" and burning out my already-strained nervous system. I'm thinking of how I can works with these parts more intentionally as a way to find some release from it's tight grip. Taking breaks is a part of this ongoing work.
Thanks Helen that's helpful to hear. And oh yes, shame!!! I tend to see this is the most difficult burden our parts carry - we'll do almost anything to avoid it... good luck with gently offering them attention. See you soon!
Tell me: Do you feel unworthy of breaks? Do you feel unworthy of other things? Do you know why? What beliefs do your young parts hold about you or the world? What is the consequence of you not doing or receiving or asking for the things you feel unworthy of? Under which circumstances are you most likely to flourish? How could you work towards making that happen? What one thing might you do this week?
Thanks for this post, Satya. Thought-provoking as ever. I don't think I feel unworthy. But there's a part of me that thinks if I don't work, then financial disaster awaits. The joy of the self-employed! Being homeless feeds into that too I think. I don't feel secure enough. I need to give myself a retreat day a month to focus just on my fiction. Feel free to ask me in a few weeks if I have done it or not!
Yes that makes total sense as a holding-you-back belief and it's harder when they are also connected with potential reality... good luck with that day a month - sounds like just what you need!