I say a lot of things about inspiration, but do I try to live by them when things are tough? Or are the things I say about inspiration nothing more than mindless writing exercises to attract attention to my blog post?
If bloggers are going to recommend strategies for living and yet not follow through with them, that makes them giant hypocrites.
Bamboo Forest doesn’t play that game.
Recently, my mind was about to travel down a spiral of negativity, but then I recalled the message I shared with you on 5/17/09–focusing your mind on things you don’t like in life is a very wasteful application of your resources. Far better to direct your mind in a way that will improve your life.
So instead of sitting in my chair ruminating on all the things I don’t like in life, I opted instead to pen this blog post. A far superior application of myself, wouldn’t you say?
Applying myself to enhance my life = 1 Ruminating on negativity = 0
I have another example of my blog writing contributing to my living my life on my terms. And I hope some of the things I say also help you to live your life in a more life-enhancing way. That’s what it’s all about. On to the other example…
My mind was about to interpret a life circumstance as embarrassing. But then I recalled what I wrote about on 7/11/08. Listen, friends, we don’t get emabarrassed about anything because we know that death awaits. And because we know that when we’re embarrassed it’s because we’re focusing on something, that in truth, no one else gives a crap about. We aren’t that important to them. And if we are… they have much bigger problems than we do.
Some of you dweebies out there may be saying right about now, “But Bamboo Forest, I blog about writing and not about cool things like you do, such as inspiration–how then can I use blogging to prevent myself from being a low down hypocrite?”
Friend, I have the perfect solution for you. If you have a blog on writing, you’ve probably told your readers a thousand times to omit needless words. Next time you’re busting out a blog post, ensure you’re not being too wordy otherwise you’re being a damn hypocrite. And nobody likes them.
Of course, I don’t just blog on inspiration. I also write humor (roughly 50%). So how do I use those posts to keep myself from living life as a hypocrite? Actually, I haven’t quite figured that one out yet and I’m not sure I ever will.
I try to follow my own parenting advice… and I do not read women’s magazines unless it’s for gathering material for the blog.
Hi Bamboo: I know exacly what you mean, because the same thing has happened to me. A couple of times I’ve felt overwhelmed by a project and I’ve told myself: I’ve adviced my readers to break the project down into small steps, even micromovements, and to reward themselves after each step, even if it’s just by congratulating themselves for moving forward. Then I’ve applied this strategy to my projects and have gotten them done. I don’t know what you were trying not to think about when you wrote this post, but whatever it was, I’m almost glad it happened because it got you to write this great post.
You’re so right, if you put advise out into the world, you have to live it. Personally, writing helps remind me to live it. Even more importantly putting the word down to paper helps quantify exactly how i feel, how i optimally live. Writing helps me and probably many others live better through the crafting of their own words. We all have to look into our selves, our actions and our motivations to produce quality writing. Without being honest about what we see in our selves we can’t write anything new and insightful or help anyone.
Many things are easier said than done. I try to do as I say, but I’m a slow learner…
Thanks for the post; I enjoyed reading it.
@ Vered: Glad to learn you don’t read women’s magazines. I feel so relieved now.
@ Marelisa: Thanks. I agree… was totally worth it. And, often, our own advice is pretty darn good and helpful, we need only follow through.
@ Matt: Good point about being honest about what we see in ourselves. I suppose good writing, is in part, the act of looking within. And true… when we write about something, we create a mental reference for how to live.
@ Laurie: Saying things is surely easier than doing them. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by.
I err of course – I’m human – but I try to live to my word every day. The best way for me to do this is to always keep my children in the back of my mind. I ask what I would do if I knew they were watching with full understanding. This helps me stay in line 95% of the time.
Hey Bamboo-
Awesome reminder!!- Thanks!
BF, I’m always conscious when I write if it’s merely an idea I have, or something I have implemented myself.
For instance, I can never give studying tips, as I rarely studied in school. It’s not how I excelled.
-Nate
@ Writer Dad: That’s an interesting approach. Sounds like a good and effective one.
@ Patti: Thank you.
@ Nate: Now that I wrote this post, I’m going to be more mindful of the words I say when they’re not being said
Good to see you Nate. Thanks for dropping by.
Yep, don’t write the talk if you balk at the walk.
@ The Lawyer Mom: You would only be hurting yourself if you had good strategies and wisdom to share but didn’t strive to fulfill them.
Blogging can help us in this way.
We all probably feel that deep down, a lot of bloggers are hypocrites. It seems like bloggers have a nice, tidy, convenient answer for everything, and that does get old after a while. I say that if you preach something, then practice it!
@ Trey: I can only speak for myself. Any advice I give here, I try to follow myself. And by writing about it in a blog post, what I find helpful, can motivate not only the readers to follow through, but me as well.