23 Comments
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KatSC's avatar

Change is good.

Your writings are very informational and challenging. If you don’t find pleasure or positivity on a Medium, change. Go where you can feel and write your best.

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Thanks for your support, Kat! Medium has become a backdrop in my life.

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Cathy Joseph's avatar

I hope your new medical diagnosis opens new paths of healing for you., Sandra!

I did not know you had been disillusioned with Medium. I wrote a farewell post there last week, after coming to the realization it was only Substack that was feeding my soul. Medium had stopped doing that for me. After I posted it, I immediately felt lighter and more peaceful. I know it was the right decision for me.

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Cathy, Thank you for your care and concern! I learned that my current responses are related to my old diagnosis! That's still a move forward. I've been gradually employing new approaches and feeling a bit better.

I just read your farewell post on Medium, resonating with the points you made in it. I'm glad leaving the platform for now has made you feel lighter and more peaceful! I have remained for now because articles from my archive still generate income even if new posts generate less now. But it means I must keep posting to keep the interest going. But I do wonder if it's the right thing for my soul! Thanks for sharing your experience. It gives me another valuable perspective that I appreciate so much.

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Cathy Joseph's avatar

The new old diagnosis sounds hopeful - especially since you are feeling better!

I was never able to generate much income from Medium, but gratefully received what little was there as a sign of abundance from the Universe. I questioned if leaving would send the wrong message, energetically - but then I realized honoring the path that energized me would be the right decision to take. We will see...right?!

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Suzanne Heyn's avatar

I always love hearing people’s reflections on finding their creative place in the world. It can be so difficult to pour years of time and energy into a platform only for changes on that platform to dissolve everything we worked so hard to build. I felt that way about Instagram and I really regret spending too much time trying to save something that was lost. I’m so appreciative of Substack and yet I’m not sure about going ‘all in’ as they say on the Substack business model. After reflecting, I’m realizing the most fulfilling times in my business have been those times when I worked 1:1 with people, and so I’m planning to focus on that going forward and have my Substack be the extra sauce on the side. I also really want to experiment with YouTube, simply taking my top-performing blog posts and using them as a script. What are your goals with your writing? Do you want to grow your audience, make more money? Personally, I realize I’ve been so focused on growth that I’ve neglected the monetization aspect. I kind of thought it would just happen as I grew. I did well in the past with courses and workshops but feeling now like I want to focus on a signature offering, get everything dialed in and firmly planted on a solid foundation, and then grow. But I’m also realizing I don’t actually care about writing that much! Ha. It’s just a tool to share my ideas and connect with people. A long, winding journey for sure, and always evolving! Sorry for the ramble. I too am reimagining my writing and career.

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Suzanne, Thanks for sharing your personal experience. It was helpful to read about your experience on Instagram and your thoughts about where you are now with Substack, Instagram, and 1:1 offerings. My creative place is in the writing realm, but as you say, platforms change, so it's a matter of being fluid and moving as needed. It's not always clear when and where, however! My goal is to touch as many people as possible with writing. I have an income goal, too. Until recently, I was moving toward my goal on Medium. Another part of me wants to meditate more, meaning writing less. Time will tell! Thanks for your invaluable input. You have me thinking.

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Kaitlyn Ramsay's avatar

I've been feeling blocked, too, Sandra. This past lunar eclipse has brought up a lot, and flowing with it has allowed me to loosen up on how I think things need to be, even though it's so hard at times. I barely wrote at all in the past few weeks, other than some drafts that didn't make it (yet).

During Virgo Season I changed up my nutrition a bit, cooking more at home and ordering less dreaded delivery 🤣 Thank you for sharing how you've been feeling. Wishing you a happy birthday!!

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Kaitlyn, Thanks for sharing your personal experience. I'm glad you feel you've been able to loosen up since the lunar eclipse and flow with how things are instead of how you think things need to be. That can be a hard one for me as well! I always want to work on my plan, but sometimes I just cannot! I love your focus on cooking during Virgo season and caring for yourself through good food! I finally wrote an article, a reminder that even writer's block changes like everything else in this world! Wishing you the best, always.

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Lori K's avatar

I love Virgos! My sun is in Capricorn and we’re known to get along very well. 🙌

Change? Hmmmm. I feel like I’m always changing. Growing. Leaning. Exploring. Experimenting. Investigating.

Maybe I’d change my wardrobe, get a fence so I can have a poodle again. But I don’t think that’s the change you’re talking about. 😁

I just can’t think of a change right now, but this was an incredible read my friend!!

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Lori, I have a Capricorn moon! I didn't have poodles in mind, but sure, whatever floats your boat! Maybe that's precisely the change you need. He-he! But no worries if you can't think of change right now. You know you best! Thanks for your response, and I'm glad you appreciate the piece, even if thinking of change isn't for you right now.

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Lori K's avatar

Oh nice!! My moon is in Libra. Poodles are so poodlly and I’ve been wanting one for awhile now. Some day. 😄

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Maia Duerr's avatar

I'm not sure I have anything to share on the prompt... I'm sort of in a continual state of self-assessment and choosing desired changes and creating action plans to get there, with varying degrees of focus and 'success.' But I did just want to say I can totally see the Virgo in you, Sandra, and it makes me smile. I love Virgos for their absolute dedication to details (even when it drives themselves and their loved ones a bit crazy), and somehow I imagine you sitting down to write your beautiful posts and taking lots of time to make sure everything is just right. That's a quality I truly admire, and it's totally Virgo : )

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Maia, That sounds like a beautiful state of flow! I'm surprised you so easily see the Virgo in me. We probably show our colors through our words as writers, or perhaps you are more astute than the average person. You nailed how I write posts! It does drive me nuts sometimes. Thanks, Maia!

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Lou Blaser's avatar

Hey, we're both Virgos! 💃🏾 Thank you so much for sharing my post in your newsletter, Sandra.

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Happy belated birthday!

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KatSC's avatar

I’m back!!! I took a hiatus from much reading, but your free eletter always seems to reel me back in! Such good thoughts on similar situations!! Thx!

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Kat, Welcome back! We all need breaks sometimes. I'm glad you took care of yourself. Thanks for connecting again and telling me how my e-letter resonates with you! I appreciate that.

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Jean Sampson's avatar

How strange that a few days ago I finally saw and read an article on Medium by you! I was wondering if I would see one there and was so happy that I did. I enjoy your writings wherever they are, Sandra. I am Libra and I do think there is something to astrology but whenever I look into it, I see a lot of math and graph-looking charts, so I usually just read the interpretation and trust the experts to tell me what they see.

I find that I do better if I just tackle one change or part of a change, at a time. This year, leaving my studio and not being able to walk very well, has been about all I could handle---but, of course, if more to handle had come my way, I would have found the inner (and outer) resources to handle it. Isn't that sort of what life if about anyway? I wonder if there will be a time when I can say, "I would like to change this," and actually be able to do it. Well, actually, I am looking into Joe Despenza and his meditations and discoveries about how we can actually change our lives to heal. So, there is that :). I will see how I can work with his meditations as many others have done successfully! Wishing us both well in our life paths, Sandra! <3

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Jean, You've made a huge change this year, relocating your studio. You don't need to ask this particular question right now! You're amazingly courageous. I'm sure you will find the resources to handle whatever comes your way. But I hope you get a well-deserved break from challenges for a while. Good luck with the Joe Despenze meditations.

I'm surprised you haven't seen me on Medium before this, but it is a vast world. I'm glad you enjoyed the articles. Astrology is too complex for me, too. I can grasp the significant movements, but I leave it to the experts like you. I always love hearing from you!

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Lori L. Cangilla, Ph.D.'s avatar

Thanks for sharing my article, Sandra!

I love the question you posed here. It’s motivating to consider stating to ourselves in clear terms what we need and want to change about our lives. So important!

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Sandra Pawula's avatar

Lori, You're so welcome. I love your writing. I agree! This is an empowering question to ask ourselves.

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Lori L. Cangilla, Ph.D.'s avatar

Aw, thanks, Sandra! I love yours, too. It’s wonderful to find kindred spirits here on Substack!

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