“We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose.” –Bob Goff

Hey friends! Today is the one year blogging anniversary of Rita’s Digest! Well, technically it’s been one year since I launched. Anyone who has blogged at any point can tell you there is a lot of behind the scenes set-up and content creation for quite a while before making your work public. There were highs and lows on this journey, but this roller coaster ride has been worth the invaluable lessons I’ve learned along the way. Here’s what my first year of blogging has taught me.

Work in purpose: I had more than my fair share of slumps where I lacked creativity. Whew!  I was extremely unmotivated to write, brainstorm ideas, edit photos, and plan my content. In every one of those moments of uncertainty, there was always a sign—be it a video, quote, or devotional— that pointed me toward the path of clarity. Who am I doing this for? Why am I doing this? What impact will my words have?

 I also had a few special people that provided continuous encouraging words and they had no idea how impactful they were/are. Those same people expressed to me my words are inspirational and how much they look forward to my posts. My ‘WHY” never went away.

Don’t compare: Let me drop this in your spirit if you haven’t heard: “Comparison is the thief of joy”.  The expectation to have massive follower counts, to have daily social engagement, to produce perfectly curated feeds… the pressure was suffocating. I couldn’t keep up and I simply vowed not to. Not only did I stay in my own lane, but I put it in cruise control and took my foot off the pedal when necessary for a much needed break. There’s room for everyone on this path. You just have to know which highway, street, or dirt road you want to travel.  

Be confident: As an outgoing introvert, this one was tough. I’m slowly overcoming the fear of selling what I’m about. I’ve learned to ask for what I want. I’m now a semi-pro at asking for email addresses to add to my mailing list. So uh, if you haven’t subscribed yet, do your girl a favor and sign up now. Please and thank you!

This summer, I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and I’ll be attending 2 conferences geared toward content creators: “Her Purpose” and “Ignite Your Influence”. I’m looking forward to soaking up so much knowledge from fellow creatives all over and making year 2 just as magical. This is my investment in myself.

I made a plethora of goals in my first year. Did I achieve them all? That’s a hard NO. But all in all, I am most proud of the times I pushed myself beyond the feeling of simply not wanting to, the frustration of being overlooked, and the plethora of negative thoughts I embedded in my own head thinking that I didn’t belong on this space. I have a lot to learn still, and as long as I’m willing, I’ll still suit up to go into the game. I know that I was created for this!

What are your goals for your blog or business? What have been your biggest accomplishments?