I started this course because I had become aware that I needed to rebuild, if you will, one of the corner pillars of myself (envision a building that has already been built, yet one corner was compromised). It needed to be addressed, and I knew it, and I also knew that all my machinations in my own journey had not truly addressed the issue (which required a demo and a rebuild).
And, I had been feeling some underlying anxiety. I had jumped into a different course with MarkJ and was finding positive benefit. This was a huge commitment for me — this 6 months of commitment to myself, to reshape myself.
So here, I am in the program, and glad of it.
I love that we are encouraged to write and participate. As I sit down to write this, I am happy to share. Yet, honestly and respectfully, I am also aware that I think I heard/ read that the 300-500 word requirement has something to do with SEO (search engine optimization, a marketing tool).
I had the sense initially that the blog was to “help us” by the process of writing, and the act of sharing, which I feel is a good stretching exercise for me, to commit to doing that. I am not sure how comfortable I am with trying to meet a requirement for SEO purposes.
That’s not why I am here. If it had been a little more obvious that’s what was going on, I would have felt more comfortable. As it stands, it feels a tiny bit manipulated, which unfortunately is a part of marketing these days. If this is for a purpose, just be upfront, is my thinking, rather than weaving it in somewhere where it could be missed easily.
I am happy to report that, other than getting organized (we are traveling, so it’s an added dimension) this is much more doable than I had thought. The fact that it is a Sunday evening meet makes it ideal — I may not have made the commitment if not for this time frame. The daily requirements have turned out to be more like eating nuggets, rather than having to consume a 4-course meal all at one sitting.
At first I was afraid of the commitment, and almost did not attend the first one. (Yeah, yeah, hello yellow)
The other thing is that I was really seeing this as a life line to change for me. And I am realizing that, rather than making the message (incorporating it as a new philosophy for Me Version 2), because of my spiritual work up to this point, I can make myself the guru, rather than the material and the practices — that gives it a greater sense of ease for me, rather than “I MUST do this, or I’m not going to transform as I need to” kind of approach.
If you have read this, thank you.
Kudos to you for your accomplishments this week while traveling. I do know the extra burden being away from home adds to getting the work done.
I ended up writing over 1000 words myself so it would be good for the SEO, but turns out I needed at least that much just to think through what I was experiencing. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to share and interact with others as I go through this.
There is so much potential in this program to reprogram the habits of our lives which are not serving us will. I encourage you in your journey.
Aloha Joan for writing your blog this week and looking forward to a great year with you! I’m not sure where you got the idea that ‘SEO’ is part of your requirements – it’s NOT never been. The requirement is to journal once a week, in a blog, about your experience in the MKE that week. Which you have fulfilled! Bravo
Joan, thank you SO MUCH for your honesty and transparency here! That’s SO MUCH appreciated. I can see how hearing about SEO/Marketing requirements could be jarring, but that is just a little P.S. to our work together in case a few extra words could get something helpful we write get seen by someone longing for that. We see it as a service. Our work together is always about helping ourselves and helping others in our very troubled world and is always a part of everything we do. THEN…a big kudos for the internal work you’ve already accomplished. I love how you end with how you’ve found “a greater sense of ease” for yourself in how you’re positioning yourself (“I can make myself guru”) facing the material and the requirements yet seeing past them to your clear and exciting goal of shoring up your foundation. Cheering you on!