Return on Investment

29 days ago I signed up for a challenge to write 31 blog posts in 31 days. At the time, I wasn't 100% sure that I would post every single day. The rules allowed for makeup posts and I felt like it was a very likely possibility that I would rely on that option at least a couple of times once life got busy. A funny thing happened though, once I started writing daily. It was fun, it had such a feel of purpose that I began to prioritize the commitment. It wasn't just some challenge I'd signed up for, but a promise to myself to do something for myself, something I loved, daily.

As the challenge is nearing its end, I am so proud of myself for not having missed a day. This has very little to do with the challenge and everything to do with a feeling of gratitude to myself for taking care of myself in this way. There have been countless promises I have made to myself over the years that I have broken. The experience of keeping this one has restored some of my faith in myself. Trust can be a difficult concept when you can't even trust yourself but I am repairing some of those old wounds from broken promises and alleviating the guilt and shame I carry because of them.

Lesa Townsend, the creator of this challenge, has sent out an email daily with tips for blogging. A lot of them focus on blogs for a particular business endeavor, not as much to a personal blog but today a business term mentioned, ROI, really stuck out to me. My investment in this writing time has provided many unexpected returns beyond increased blog traffic.

A fellow blogger introduced me to Byron Katie in a comment to one of my posts. I have greatly enjoyed going through her Worksheet and reviewing some of the beliefs that I've held, that were holding me back. Another listed me in a post of 7 blogs she recommended that others check out. Those of you who have being paying close attention know that I've also forged a new friendship with another blogger and will be joining her in a new challenge in August. I would not have met these women, been encouraged and inspired by them, without this challenge and without catering to my own passion, sharing my thoughts, hopes, dreams, goals etc.

I've also been reading a lot of other peoples' blogs thanks to the challenge and getting some great information, motivation, tips for certain things like writing and business development. While the actual time I have put into these efforts (reading and writing) has been fairly minimal, my returns have been an enormous blessing.

I believe that this dynamic is true of all life. When you begin to invest in yourself, in your passions, in building bridges of commitment and trust, you build a much more enjoyable life for yourself and consequently contribute positively to those around you. As I continue on a path to be of service to the world, to help create change, today I am reminded that investments into my own service and change are the best possible starting point.