10,000 ways to not do Substack

well, maybe a little exaggeration!

Hello!

Well I am unashamedly changing things up here at Substack, again.

I haven’t been on here for a long time, but I have been experimenting and not found the right formulation for me just yet. So thank you, so much, to my followers and subscribers who have stuck with me thus far, as I try things out.

As with all public platforms there is so much noise about how to, where to, what to advice. It becomes about how many subscribers, being the best, earning the most, being the most authentic, the most unique, being a best seller. Feeling like rubbish when I see so many notes about about how someone got 6000 subscribers in a week. And I got totally sucked into that.

Then I thought, hang on a minute. When have I ever done things the way I was told to or copy anyone else? Actually, I need to stop looking at what everyone else is doing, and do what I think is right, in my own way. I have always had my own mind, my own voice and my own identity. Of course, this has landed me in a lot of hot water over the years and which is why I mainly work for myself now. I find it hard to play the corporate game, although I have done, many times over the years. I am more of guidelines kinda gal when it comes to rules.

I have to say, that wherever I have worked, in other organisations, I feel like I have brought about positive change. It can be really uncomfortable but I do live my life by what I think is important.

I have helped countless clients to identify what is important to them and develop a way of life that is aligned to that over the last 20 years as a psychotherapist.

I am going through a lot of discomfort and emotional turmoil as I transition into coaching. I am having to rethink everything I do and how I do it. I feel like that little caterpillar, not wanting to come out to be butterfly, hiding in its little chrysalis. And I think this has been reflected in my Substack, but no more, I will find my new identity.

It is exciting, but also pretty scary. However, at the end of the day, I would rather have a small audience who enjoys my work than trying to please so many that are not sure I am for them. And that is how I want to write. To write authentically (I always cringe a bit at that word, but it feels appropriate, in this context).

So, for now at least, maybe forever, the paywall is coming off my Substack. And if this Substack is for me to write what I want to write, that feels only just and right. My topic, still will be self-esteem. It is a HUGE topic and a big passion of mine. I still hope that my writing will help and make people think about how they can develop healthy self-esteem. I see that as a lifelong journey, myself included.

This will take the pressure off in one area of my professional life. To not have to have deadlines of things to deliver here. To take it a bit more slowly and open up space as the wonderful

Jen Carrington

advocates.

This does feel right and I feel will enable me to write more stuff that I feel is worthy. Worthy of me. I need to do a little shuffling about behind the scenes here, but the paywall will be off tomorrow. It has taken me a bit of time to think about what the page will look like with the paywall off.

I really love Substack. There are some really wonderful people here with some amazing writing. Taking the paywall down and the pressure off will enable me to enjoy the journey here more. And maybe that will mean you will like sharing the journey with me more. It is always a privilege to have anyone read my stuff.

Being dyslexic at school in the 1970/80s was not easy. Only one teacher ever said a kind word to me. That was my English teacher, Mr Gibbons. He said I should go into writing of some sort. I haven’t tried that to date. So here is my chance to honour what he saw in me and myself.

And a little shout out to

Jeff Matlow

to show I am true to my word from the notes yesterday! Not sure how these tags work, if they work!!

Warmest wishes,

Jane

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Floreo (Latin for flourish) Self-esteem is not just about confidence, it is the foundation of your human experience. It is your right to feel comfortable with yourself and flourish.

Subscribe now and join the movement towards healthy self-esteem development, something we can all benefit from, for ourselves and those around and us.

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