Re-evaluating

I have decided to take a step back from my freelance work. I have been so focused on my goal of earning $500 a month in freelance income that I have been accepting as many jobs as possible, and my myriad deadlines are leaving me stressed. I’ve been feeling like I haven’t had time to get things done around the house (including unpacking the boxes that remain in the middle of our dining room), spend quality time with Ryan, or just relax. No wonder I’ve felt so frazzled and strung-out these past few weeks!

I’ve come a long way in just a couple of months — I have a growing body of work on the Web that will help me get more jobs when my schedule allows it.

Out of the Tunnel

I just finished listening to an audio program on self-discovery. It wasn’t the most inspiring program I’ve ever heard; a lot of it was repeat information for me, and the mixed metaphors — bridges, tunnels, chains, tapestries, and even boxes of crayons — left me cringing. But one of the metaphors did tie in to something I’ve been thinking about lately regarding my writing life. The speaker talked about tunnel vision: how at a very early age, we learn how to think and act and relate to the world around us a certain way. And how, as adults, it can be very hard to look outside our tunnels and see things differently.

More Blogs and Editing Work

Today’s AltGlobe post is about some of the different kinds of yoga classes that are typically offered at studios:

Beginning a Regular Yoga Practice

I also secured two more freelance clients yesterday: one that assigns SEO-driven blog posts and articles at the beginning of every month, so that will go into effect in March, and an editing gig for a book publishing company, which pays a flat fee for each book edited, plus royalties. I don’t think it’ll be a huge money maker, but I love editing and I think it’ll be fun, and a nice way to mix up my freelance work. I requested non-fiction manuscripts, particularly in the self-help and spiritual genres, so with any luck I will be able to learn something interesting at the same time. Bonus!

Doing the Not-So-Great Stuff

Today’s “Note from the Universe” e-mail is particularly relevant in light of yesterday’s post:

Until the really “great” stuff comes along, do the not-so-great stuff.

The not-so-great stuff always leads to the great stuff. Whereas doing nothing pretty much leads to nowhere.

And do it with a passion.

Maybe writing $5 assignments for Demand Studios and non-paying posts for ehow is the “not-so-great stuff,” but it’s what is available to me now, and I am doing it with a passion, even if I can’t see exactly how or when it’s going to lead to bigger things. It’s a lot more than I was doing six months ago, or one month ago, or even two weeks ago. I have no doubts that other jobs will follow … maybe even great jobs. (I did actually pick up a couple of $15 assignments from DS yesterday, so that is progress!)

Doing nothing leads to nowhere. But taking a step, no matter how small, sets the wheels in motion so that the Universe can begin to work behind the scenes to make things happen. You have to start somewhere.

Slowly Building my Empire

I took Friday off to work on some writing projects. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much writing done because of my dinosaur of a computer, which doesn’t really cooperate if I have more than one application open at a time. Until I get my new one (hopefully in a couple of weeks!!), my productivity is going to be seriously hindered. (Hey Gloria, does Greg want my old one back for any reason??)

I spent most of the morning paying off some credit cards (thanks to a $1500 tax refund, woohoo!) so I guess that was productive in its own right.

More on the Basics of Yoga

I’ve just come to realize there is no option on AltGlobe for a non-member to view a complete listing of member’s articles. I’m seeing if they will make this available, but for now, you’ll just have to put up with me posting individual links to each article.

Yoga post #2: A Brief History of Yoga

Yoga Post #3: Yoga’s Codes of Conduct

I’m hoping to be able to write follow-up posts exploring each yama and niyama more in-depth in the coming weeks so stay tuned!

Update: Here is the link to my complete blog on AltGlobe