One Wonderful Year Of Writing
How Substack has given me inspiration, connection and confidence over the past year...
This voiceover is an audio version of my Slow Sunday Letter below. It is unedited, so may have some stutters, imperfections, and background noise. I hope you enjoy listening to it anyway!
Welcome to Generosity of Spirit, a gentle community exploring all aspects of Slow & Gentle Living. We also get cosy with our bookish chats & I share insights into living a creative life. You are so welcome here, grab a cuppa & stay a while …
Welcome back to another Slow Sunday Letter! I hope you have had a slow and gentle week.
This week’s Slow Sunday Letter is very special because it marks one year for me on Substack! This last year has been one of the most positive and enriching of my life and I owe so much of that to you! Yes, you reading this! Thank you for being here, thank you for supporting Generosity of Spirit. We are just getting started! But I hope you will allow me a little look back, and moment to pause after this past year.
So grab a cuppa, get cosy and let’s take a little look back over the last year.
Pushing Outside Of Your Comfort Zone
“The hardest thing to do is leaving your comfort zone. But you have to let go of the life you’re familiar with, and take the risk to live the life you dream about.” T. Arigo
When I look back over the last year, I actually can’t believe how much Generosity of Spirit has given me. I feel so much more confident in my writing, but also in myself. I have dared to dream again- and I have gotten to know myself on a deeper level. Something I always craved, was living a life that felt authentic to me, and this last year I feel like I have been – owed most of all to embracing my creativity and believing in myself.
I still remember that feeling of pushing publish on my very first Substack post – not knowing this platform, what I really wanted to say – I had no plan other than a desire to write and get my words out there. I think that is what draws so many of us to this platform.
My first post was more of a diary entry, and looking back at it, I realise how even though I felt lost … I wasn't. I actually knew what to do- I just needed to believe in myself and take a step forward out of my comfort zone …
an extract from my first post:
“I have always had the feeling that I have something inside of me that I want to share, but I have also always been scared. Scared to write- maybe? Scared to fail - definitely. I was talking to a friend lately, and I mentioned - I had never failed. It was a sweeping comment, but the more I have thought about it since, the more I realised - I was right. I have not failed. Ever. I’ve never failed an exam, I’ve never done something and had a massive fail moment - mostly because I have guarded myself against this by walking away, or bowing out before I fail. I don’t often push myself out of my comfort zone, I often hear myself saying- ‘I can’t do that’ - ‘I can’t run’ or ‘I can’t bake’ or whatever it may be. Talking to my friend, I realised I limit myself all the time. I think, it was to create a safer environment for myself. I have a lot of anxiety, every day - I often feel totally unsure of myself out there in the big wide world. I am an introvert through and through, and I would also describe myself as a sensitive person. Over the last few years I have developed a simple and slow living philosophy, which has given me the validation and space within my own life to truly relax and live authentically for possibly the first time in my life.
At 35 years old, I feel closer to who I truly am than ever before. But I am still very guarded. I still don’t tend to push myself out of my comfort zone. I know what I want to achieve, I think I also know what is not working in my own life- but truthfully, I am holding myself back...
Take right now, this moment. I have been putting off writing for months… I opened my laptop this morning, with no agenda. No concept, no thought or plan as to what I wanted to write. I simply, made a pact with myself to ‘write something’. I have been sitting with this phrase for maybe a month or more, I wanted to crack open the door, and then I guess wait and see if I would take the bait. And, then here I am - writing. I have no idea what - but I am writing! It feels so good, and I know it is something that I have needed to return to for myself.”
What happened next over the last year, in my weekly posts, was so far beyond my expectations – but it was also way past my comfort zone.
It is brave to put your words out there into the world, I remember the nervousness and trepidation and wondering if anyone would read them – let alone resonate or feel inspired by them. Those hopes felt so distant I didn’t even think they were possible. But they were possible, and have been one of my greatest joys on Substack.
Early on, when it was easy to get sucked into the fear of failing, or the worry that no-one was reading your words, when your numbers were really low and your direction was hazy – I told myself over and over again – like a mantra – ‘if this helps, inspires or resonates with just ONE person, I know I have done my job and I will be happy’ – it didn’t occur to me until I sat down to write this piece – that, that one person was me. If there is one thing I have come away from this year holding true and close to my heart it is that you must write what you enjoy, what moves you in some way. I find if I follow this wish, I am on the right path.
It takes courage and bravery to intentionally step beyond your comfort zone, it can be scary and anxiety inducing, but I know that sometimes it is worth trying something new, stepping outside of your comfort zone can really help you grow and find a sense of self, pride and joy.
Finding a Community
Before I joined Substack, and pressed publish on that first post – I had no idea of the vast, inspiring and encouraging community I was stepping into. I have never experienced a place like this before. I feel so fortunate to have found this platform, I genuinely feel like I found my people. I have felt seen and heard for the first time ever and I have discovered so many great writers and thinkers.
Many of us know
(if you don’t, you should!) and totally by chance, I stumbled upon Claire’s Sparkle on Substack early on, and how lucky I was. Claire is so generous with her support. She has inspired me so much through her words both on Sparkle on Substack and also Creatively Conscious. Claire has created such a gentle and encouraging space – and in that space I have felt braver, and slowly but surely started to really believe that my writing dreams were possible. Claire paves a way guiding you as you go, and I cannot imagine my experience here without her advice, guidance and inspiration. Thank you Claire, I hope you know what a difference you make.But this is where Substack’s magic starts to really get exciting, because this talented and friendly community of both writers and readers are curious and hungry in equal measure – together we explore, influence, inspire and discover so much. We find similarities, celebrate our differences, we learn from each other and encourage our colleagues. It is so unique, and so special. I love being a part of it, and l love growing Generosity of Spirit in this space. I want to thank every single reader, and writer here and I’d like you to know, truly each one of you has changed my life this last year and I am so grateful.
I remember when I started to get to know people’s names, faces, Substack’s and how nice it felt to belong. I have been so fortunate to have made some wonderful connections and friendships here, those I really hope will grow. There are many, but I wanted to particularly mention
and who I ‘met’ virtually so early on and I have so valued our friendship here, and watching them both grow and create such wonderful places here has been so lovely.Bravery: Journal Prompts
What are your comfort zones and what are they preventing you from succeeding?
What scares you when it comes to exploring out of your comfort zone?
What are the next actionable steps you need to take to explore further?
Is there a dream that you’ve carried in your heart for a long time? What is it?
If you could do anything right now, what would it be?
One fear I’d like to overcome is…
One affirmation I could use to encourage myself is…
The words I’d like to live by are…
I feel happiest about myself when…
What is one thing you would like to dedicate yourself to over the next 6 months?
Looking Ahead…
“Each time you try something for the first time you will grow - a little piece of the fear of the unknown is removed and replaced with a sense of empowerment.” — Annette White
Ok, deep breath. Shall we peek behind the curtain and see what is happening next here at Generosity of Spirit?
Recently, I introduced a monthly Book Lovers Chat – on the first Sunday of every month. Book Lovers Chat provides a channel for all my bookish loves, book reviews, challenges, video chats with you all, and has become a little cosy corner for us all to gather and talk about books and reading. I love it!
Every other Sunday of the month, I publish my Slow Sunday Letter which is a personal letter from me to you for us to explore all elements of Slow and Gentle Living.
I will also be introducing a third chapter to Generosity of Spirit – A Writer’s Life – where I will explore what it means to be a writer, my experiences, and some gentle but hopefully encouraging tips to really inspire your Creative Life.
All of this content will remain free and available to everyone, and I am so grateful to every reader and subscriber.
Slow and Steady
Looking way ahead, I am starting to create a plan around a paid membership with some exclusive additional offerings and I hope to launch this next year. If you have any thoughts or hopes on what you would like to see within this membership, do let me know, as Generosity of Spirit grows to provide a space for our community to flourish in together.
I have not hurried into the ‘paid’ element of Substack, instead focusing on confidence and community, but I do feel there is more to explore, and more I would like to offer you. I hope this paid membership will add real value to you – so watch this space!
My Recommendations
There are so many Substack’s I enjoy, but I just wanted to give a few of my favourites a shout out - I always find inspiration, solidarity, kindness and joy reading their words and I am certain you will too :
- Sparkle on Substack and Creatively Conscious - Slow Scottish Stories - SoulStack by Beth Kempton - Unwind - musings by mika - Slower Space - THE ANXIOUS WRITER - The Mind Reset - Rediscover . Reconnect . Re-Emerge“Even the smallest changes in our daily routine can create incredible ripple effects that expand our vision of what is possible.” — Charles F. Glassman
I am so proud of what we are creating here at Generosity of Spirit, and I am so excited for the future. When I look back over the last year I cannot believe how much these small changes have impacted my life. It started with stepping outside my comfort zone- and grew into experimenting more, exploring different paths, trying new things, not being afraid to take up space, or make mistakes and for first time letting myself dream BIG and believe I could.
I have always wanted to be a writer, and finally I believe I am.
If you are new here, or if you stumbled upon me at the beginning, thank you. I really hope you find inspiration, gentle guidance and a slower pace here at Generosity of Spirit. Slow and Steady we are going to step into our light together, and I am here for you!
I would really love to know your thoughts on stepping outside of your comfort zone and dreaming … ? If any of this resonated with you - and if you feel able, please do share in the comments.
Thank you for being here,
With Light & Love
Emily xxx
My content is completely free, but you can buy me a coffee following this link!
If you enjoyed this post, found it useful or want to help me spread the word about how enriching Slow & Gentle Living can be, please do like/leave a comment or share/restack to help others discover Generosity of Spirit. Thank you for reading!
Congratulations on your year of writing Emily, such a wonderful milestone! ✨
The extract from your first post resonated deeply with me. As someone who is also a very anxious, sensitive person, who often tends to put herself down, I too find such a meaningful connection with writing and living more slowly.
Substack has given me a place that feels like home when it comes to sharing my words and creativity online. Other platforms don’t give the same sense of community, support and inspiration in the way that Substack does.
Congratulations Emily! (And thank you so much for the mention ❤️)