It goes something like this: ‘Yes, I wish to make a different choice in my lifestyle.’ Or ‘Yes, yes, I want to learn design.’ Or ‘Yes, I want to start that passion project of mine, tutorials on meditation.’ And then, of course, there are the initiatives that are time-sensitive and cannot be delayed — the proposals that go out with the deadline: ‘I will make that visualization, right now.’ ‘Yes, I will deliver it, of course I will.’ The go-getter, the show-off, the socialite, the (I-just-want-to-fit-in) person raising their hands ‘Yes, send it to me, yes do it, but when will you actually get it, you never do.’ So many of us suck at this.
It is not a cultural guess — millions of people make the same expression every moment of their lives.
Let me help you comprehend it as best as I can, dear Reader, I will write on Medium.
The Unfulfilled Promises
We’ve all known the story: a friend who vowed to write a novel, a colleague who pledged to get fit, or a resolution of our own, intended and forgotten, that gathers dust from the congregation on the mantel. The causes of this disjoint between vocals and action are broad. Procrastination, fear of failure, lack of discipline and sheer intimidation are all culprits, capable of derailing even the best of intentions. Slowly, the never-ending refrain of what’s said and not done leads to a build-up of frustration, a queasiness in the stomach, and an undeniable sense that the potential — that creative, intuitive side of your being — isn’t getting the outlet it wants.
My Turning Point: Starting on Medium
It was a time when I had been toying with the idea of writing things down for a wider audience. Writers on my favorite digital platform, Medium, with their ability to craft narratives and present ideas in an authentic way, had long been my inspiration. But I was putting it off, saying to myself: ‘Next week,’ followed by, ‘Next month’, then, ‘Next year.’ Soon, it became a stale excuse spanning across months, while my close friends waited patiently, and I deleted the ghosts of the half-drafted emails and half-typed thoughts that cluttered my folders.
This time, I had had enough. I realized that not giving it a go was worse than risking rejection. There are no mountaintop summits, only plateaus and valleys Yet I finally hit that publish button. I can’t say the first time was easy, but it came with incredible relief.
It was the end of an era of nothing, and the beginning of something much, much better.
The Joy of the Medium Community
Since that post, my Medium experience has been empowering. My challenge has become my passion. It’s a community of other writers that has been the real delight. Reading other people’s work, engaging with them in conversation, getting feedback, and discovering new things, all these have enriched me and changed my perspectives.
As part of the Medium community, I have grown as a writer. The excitement of posting, the rush of seeing responses from readers, and the inspirations from other writers, have been invaluable.
Every contact, even when someone leaves a comment on one of my pieces or in an engagement with a collaborator, has helped me to feel driven to write and share.
Embracing the Journey and Expanding Horizons
But that date is also the first day I started writing on Medium’ it is the beginning of a journey, not just an endpoint.
Publishing regularly means writing better, thinking broader, and getting more valuable feedback.
The platform’s diversity has forced me to stay curious, has made me think harder, and has helped me become a clearer, more concise writer.
Having had to write regularly has also given me a sense of playing by the rules. Every published piece has been a dramatic victory over the forces of indecision that held me back; it’s a case of saying you’ll do something and actually doing it.
“They tell you they will, but they never do” is such a common experience for many of us that it almost goes without saying. It takes real courage, dedication, and a sense of risk to break this cycle because it means stepping into territory with no guarantees about what will occur. My experience on Medium has taught me that if I could overcome my doubts on that first day and complete that first article, it was only the beginning of an occupation with community, growth, and opportunity.
To anyone on the verge of beginning something new: just do it, or at least that’s what I say.
The path may be bumpy, the destination hazy, the journey not worth it — but hey, you already chose a spot at the edge of the cliff. Why not see what happens next? You might end up with a community, like me, on Medium, who will cheer you on every step of the way.