What To Do When You're Tired of Trusting the Process

This angsty blog post is brought to you by this beautiful new website. I love shiny new things. New websites, in particular, are so promising. I have a million ideas about fancy layouts, fun pictures and the treats I want to put on the pages.

The part I conveniently hide from myself during those initial moments of excitement is the hours of wrestling with site builders, code or both. Choosing photographs, making sure they are in exactly the right place (and avoiding the site's Magic Hand, which will absolutely remove things at will)...whew! It's a lot. I like the individual tasks, but something unknowable happens when you put them all together--kind of like the stew they used to serve at my elementary school, towards the end of the month. (Insert side eye.) My point: I know it has to be done in order to build a site that I can love, but the truth is, I grade the tedium a vigorous thumbs down. Heh.

The story we tell ourselves is that if we follow the instructions we are given, then we will get a certain outcome. The problem is that sometimes it takes a while for the Enjoyable Outcome we are looking for to come to fruition. What do we do with ourselves in the meantime?

We have a few options, when it comes to celebration steps.

Sometimes it helps to spend a little time focusing on your victory. Give yourself a high five if you want to. It's important to spend at least a little time celebrating. You did it!!! If you pause to celebrate, it will be easier to remember what this moment feels like in the future, when you're doubting yourself.
It also helps to review your process while it is fresh in your mind. What could you change that would make things easier or better for next time?
Build your dream tool kit, as soon as you are clear about what you need (which you identified in the previous step).
Identify other items to add to your wish list, while you're feeling good. You just proved to yourself that it's possible.

There's more. Consider what has helped you while you were waiting and all out of faith. Sometimes the best faith-building actions we can take are celebrating our victories and getting some rest. It doesn't have to look impressive in order to be valid.

These are places to start. Here is a journal topic to consider writing about: What actions help you when you are in an in-between place, and are tired of trusting the process?

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