Sign up now for 50+ free audio & video pre-recorded classes on living your truth, marketing, and relationships by clicking on this link.

Sorry, I'm Not Feeling Epic Today

By on January 5, 2010 in Living Your Truth

I’ve been trying to write a blog post for the last 4 days.

This is not that post.

That post freaking sucked.

Okay, maybe it didn’t really *suck* … but it was definitely not epic. No matter how many times I rewrote it, how many stories I added and took away, whether or not I used the f word … that post just aspired to continuing levels of okay. (Note 1/6/10: I published it here – judge for yourself.)

And okay is no longer acceptable.

You see, in the last 2 months I’ve had the terrible success of writing a few blog posts that were epic pretty good.

And unlike everything else I had written before, these “pretty good” posts got the most cool thing that happens in blogging –> comments. Lots of comments, even.

Like one even got more than 100 comments. That’s Chris Brogan and Scott Stratten territory (aka “men who have book deals”).

o.m.f.g.

All of those “pretty good” posts were written from unplanned & slightly insane inspiration. Major (even shocking) life events. Burning bridges with gurus. Remembering who I am after 10 years. Big huge life altering truth telling stuff.

So what the frak do I do now?

Because I can’t be epic every day.

I mean, at some point this huge learning curve of personal development & life change will level out a bit.

And then what will I write about?

The 10 ways you know that you’re a twitter addict? A list of cool stuff I found on my google reader last week? Whether or not the new iPhone is rumored to have a flash in the camera?

I refuse to be lame.

I refuse to publish mediocrity.

Now that I’ve written posts that have changed people lives (seriously, the emails and comments I get completely freak me out), I can’t go back.

So what do I do?

Well today I’m writing a blog post about how I can’t write a blog post. Jesus, I kind of want to slap myself in the face for this crap.

And I don’t even have a freaking brilliant resolution & recommendation for you all here. No lesson for you all to bring to your own businesses & blogs. No take away.

Because I don’t know what to do.

Do I only publish posts that I believe are epic? That fully speak my truth?

I don’t want to have anything on my blog that is not my best work.

I don’t what someone new to come to my site & read my last (lame!) post and think, wow, that EPW is not as good as so-and-so said.

I don’t want to be inconsistent with my own “live your truth” brand.

But is requiring epicness completely unrealistic?

Should I regularly publish okay (lame!) posts to keep on some sort of publishing schedule, to keep my writing juices flowing, to be a “professional” blogger / writer?

What do you guys think?

No related posts.

, , , , ,

← Older Comments
  • rmassingham

    Being real and just being yourself can inspire others and can be viewed as epic by some – like me. They can’t all be home runs, sometimes a single is enough to score that winning run – pardon the baseball reference but I’m staring out at all the snow and wishing it away. Keep being you – that’s why we are here in the first place!

  • http://www.aaronhockley.com Aaron Hockley

    If you’re publishing posts about your life, and living your truth, it would seem that not every post is going to be epic… unless of course every single moment of your life is epic. Perhaps that is the case.

    — The above is what I came up with at first. Then I had another thought, which follows —

    Don’t try to be epic. Try to be you. My suspicion is that epicness will appear on its own in appropriate quantities.

    • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

      Being epic every single moment is impossible, eh? That’s why for TV reality shows they film for a sold week to get 20 minutes of content … no one is interesting all the time. Not that reality shows are epic. But you get my point.

      “Don’t try to be epic. Try to be you” <– awesome.

      • http://www.rachelstivers.com/ Rachel Stivers

        What he said (ahockley). Honesty is epic. Always. Which might be where reality shows get hung up (the honesty thing).

  • couchsurfingori

    Yet ANOTHER comment from me! Sheesh, you'd think I had nothing else to do!
    I said this might end up as a blog post, so… it did (once 3 of you said you'd laminate this) – http://www.couchsurfingori.com/2010/01/06/how-t… Feel free to leave a comment there too.

  • LaConsuelo

    Aside from loving Ori's Step # 5 . . .

    I've been in the same spot as well (though haven't yet reached EPIC with oodles of comments) and just being real always works – even if it's just for myself. That's when I get to connect to what my own truth really is and, it seems, that's what connects most with others. Anyway, trying to BE epic always makes me end up thinking “whose idiot voice is THAT?” and it always ends up being “the committee” of critics in my head and they don't know diddly!

  • Deborah

    If you were epic everyday I probably wouldn’t read your blog. People who are “epic everyday” aren’t the kind of people I can relate to and learn from every day. It’s like their lives are fairytale and unreal. Publish your good self (not lame!) and save your epic (extra special) for when you have something epic to say.

    Epic isn’t your choice.

    • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

      Such a huge part of being transparent is sharing the whole story, including all the times where I feel lame or have no idea what I am doing. So thank you for saying that it’s helpful. Because it is so scary to share the unfinished unpolished version of me.

      • http://www.rachelstivers.com/ Rachel Stivers

        Scary yes, but the unfinished, unpolished version of you is what people want (or maybe I should just speak for myself). It is interesting and amazing because it is real.

        I’m not all that finished or polished. ..so I don’t resonate with people who always have their sh#$ together and want me to join them on their mountain of guruness (and btw, I have never gotten that impression from you). Writing is about opening your soul and letting others peek inside. Anything else rings false.

        Blog whenever you want. If a schedule works, do that. If it doesn’t then don’t. Blog about whatever you want.

        And this post about not being epic was awesome and amazing.. .and quite epic. Epic is in the eye of the beholder. :)

  • http://loveyourmessbook.com Allison Nazarian

    DUDE — epic is an absolute, It either is or isn’t. It is not halfway or sorta. Not every word that comes from your mouth or text from your phone or tweet or blog entry needs to come complete with a marching band. It is in our regular messy boring whatever stuff that our real genius and EPICNESS resides.
    Always.
    Cuz it is an absolute.
    And I so know you so know that.
    #thatisall
    Love you Alli

    • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

      And didn’t we talk about this while walking around in NYC, how I’m scared to share stuff until it’s all a finished idea & I have it figured out? And you were like, there you go, there’s your next blog post.

    • http://CouchSurfingOri.com/ Couchsurfing Ori

      yeah… if every single thing you said was EPIC (had a marching band), it would be annoying to talk to you :) IT’S LIKE THOSE PEOPLE THAT TYPE IN ALL CAPS!!! IT GETS OLD REAL QUICK!

  • beth

    In the words of master yoda…there is only do or not do, there is no try. Either write or don’t. Be epic or lame. Or screw the or and insert “and” epic and lame. Just keeping showing up sister because opting out is listening to the fear-monger part of your brain (it yells crap like “you suck!”) whereas your intuition whispers in your ear (“keep writing elizabeth, it is all good”).

    • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

      That yoda quote is listed as one of my fav quotes on my FB profile. ::

      Good point re the fear/ego part of my brain yelling “you suck” — this is partially about that. And sometimes when that happens, it’s because what I am doing is risky yet most awesome.

  • http://www.istheresomethingmore.com/ Jeanine Byers Hoag

    They don't all have to be epic. They just all have to be you.

  • http://www.businessownersonline.com/ Aaron Foster

    Stop settling for mediocrity……..make each day an epic day with a new story to tell.

  • http://CouchSurfingOri.com/ Couchsurfing Ori

    30 comments on a non-epic post… that’s pretty damn great :)

  • http://laurascholz.com Laura Scholz

    It’s good to write about fear (see my “Shitty First Drafts”). And to embrace it and be honest about it. Not every post will be epic. But if your writing is raw and real and YOU and shared, that’s the bigger victory! And I’m with Laura (we Lauras are a smart bunch ;) )—-there’s nothing more “living your truth” than writing something truthful. And I happen to love this particular post. :)

  • http://howtogetbusyliving.com/ Katherine Reschke

    I do think you are at your best when you write your edgier posts but I think any post that adds value is enough for the cost of your readers’ time to read the post. That having been said the more epic posts the better ;)

  • http://CouchSurfingOri.com/ Couchsurfing Ori

    If anyone wanted to see that Muppets Bohemian Rhapsody that I was so moved by — I’m from Israel, when I left we didn’t have as many channels as they do these days, so the Muppets was one of the shows we’d watch as a family… with Hebrew subtitles, of course. Plus they’re funny as all heck! — you can find it at: http://www.couchsurfingori.com/2009/11/24/bohemian-rhapsody-by-the-muppets/

  • bridgetpilloud

    What is epic? What is the big a-ha? And what is the little a-ha? And what is the hidden a-ha?
    I appreciate your honesty and that you wrote about having not epic blog posts. I have my days when I don’t feel like I’m writing epic-ally either.
    But- then again, you never know when a simple, little un-epic post can be quite epic for the person who needs it.
    On the days when you don’t feel like you’re epic, that’s okay. That doesn’t mean it’s over or you’re lame. It means that things are sprouting underground and you just need to keep the ground warm.

  • http://twitter.com/Holly_Hanna TheWorkatHomeWoman

    I’ve dealt with similar issues on my blog. Some days you write a post not thinking too much about it and BANG, it’s the next best thing! Then other days, you think you have written something epic and no comments at all. The great thing about posts like this is that it makes you more real and believable, which makes you even more likable. Thanks for keeping it real!

  • http://CouchSurfingOri.com/ Couchsurfing Ori

    Yet ANOTHER comment from me! Sheesh, you’d think I had nothing else to do!
    I said this might end up as a blog post, so… it did (once 3 of you said you’d laminate this) – http://www.couchsurfingori.com/2010/01/06/how-to-be-epic/ Feel free to leave a comment there too.

  • LaConsuelo

    Aside from loving Ori’s Step # 5 . . .

    I’ve been in the same spot as well (though haven’t yet reached EPIC with oodles of comments) and just being real always works – even if it’s just for myself. That’s when I get to connect to what my own truth really is and, it seems, that’s what connects most with others. Anyway, trying to BE epic always makes me end up thinking “whose idiot voice is THAT?” and it always ends up being “the committee” of critics in my head and they don’t know diddly!

    • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

      My critic is my “ideal woman” who also is really upset that I don’t iron sheets. We really don’t want her writing any blog posts.

  • anaalcobia

    I love reading your posts Elizabeth.
    An epic is also built with ordinary days. And since you are larger-than-life, everything that you write is epic :)

  • http://www.seasonalcoloranalysis.net/ Jeanine Byers

    They don’t all have to be epic. They just all have to be you.

  • http://www.lisarobbinyoung.com Lisa Robbin Young

    Your moments of okayness ARE epic to others. #dealwithit

    Of course, the reverse (converse?) is also true. Your moments of epicness are just okay to some people.

    Be you. Or should I say:

    Be. You.

    that's all anybody can ask or expect. and if okay is what you've got to give, maybe it's time to let someone else give to you for a minute.

    just sayin'.

  • http://www.businessownersonline.com/ Aaron Foster

    Stop settling for mediocrity……..make each day an epic day with a new story to tell.

  • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

    I love how you actually used the word “epic” in it's actual definition, as opposed to the slang it has become.

    Definition of “epic” –> “An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.”

    Now that's actually even more intimidating than the slang it has become. But really, it says so much … even the epic hero has ordinary days. But the interesting thing is that in those epic stories, the hero's ordinary days have a completely different context as part of the hero's journey.

  • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

    My critic is my “ideal woman” who also is really upset that I don't iron sheets. We really don't want her writing any blog posts.

  • anaalcobia

    I love reading your posts Elizabeth.
    An epic is also built with ordinary days. And since you are larger-than-life, everything that you write is epic :)

    • http://elizabethpottsweinstein.com ElizabethPW

      I love how you actually used the word “epic” in it’s actual definition, as opposed to the slang it has become.

      Definition of “epic” –> “An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero.”

      Now that’s actually even more intimidating than the slang it has become. But really, it says so much … even the epic hero has ordinary days. But the interesting thing is that in those epic stories, the hero’s ordinary days have a completely different context as part of the hero’s journey.

  • http://www.lisarobbinyoung.com Lisa Robbin Young

    Your moments of okayness ARE epic to others. #dealwithit

    Of course, the reverse (converse?) is also true. Your moments of epicness are just okay to some people.

    Be you. Or should I say:

    Be. You.

    that’s all anybody can ask or expect. and if okay is what you’ve got to give, maybe it’s time to let someone else give to you for a minute.

    just sayin’.

  • marvelousmartha

    I think blogging is like an amusement park. Not every ride has to be the killer coaster. Some need to be. But at every amusement park there are kiddie coasters and trains and other (non epic) rides. And some people like those the best. And it all flow together to be marvelous as a whole. Epic and non-epic combined.

  • http://twitter.com/MamaBritt Britt Michaelian

    EPW, you have already gotten so many comments on this one, so YOU WON! You got what you wanted! Lots and lots of comments! And I am adding one more :)

    Here you have one of your epic little blog posts and you didn't even try. This is a lesson that I am grappling with myself right now… is it perfectionism? Is it a need to be the best? I am not sure, but what I do know is that Yoda did say it best and someone already use the quote in these comments. Just keeping doing what it is that you do and don't think about it too much! You have people who like what you write and read it whether they like it or not. So just keep writing and we will keep reading!

    So that is that about being epic. But what I also sense is that you are questioning this need to be epic as you not living your truth. Do you feel that this desire to be epic is somehow not your truth? Or that by not writing what is authentically going on and then not posting it because it isn't epic enough means that you are somehow sidestepping the truth? It's an interesting question because I often find myself editing posts or trying to be insightful about what I do post only to limit and potentially dilute my message. This post of yours is beautiful because it really is the TRUTH! It is totally honest and because of that it is absolutely epic and essential to your message. Be who you are. Talk about it. Don't be ashamed… live your truth!

    #thatisall (love that ;)

  • marvelousmartha

    I think blogging is like an amusement park. Not every ride has to be the killer coaster. Some need to be. But at every amusement park there are kiddie coasters and trains and other (non epic) rides. And some people like those the best. And it all flow together to be marvelous as a whole. Epic and non-epic combined.

  • brittmichaelian

    EPW, you have already gotten so many comments on this one, so YOU WON! You got what you wanted! Lots and lots of comments! And I am adding one more :)

    Here you have one of your epic little blog posts and you didn’t even try. This is a lesson that I am grappling with myself right now… is it perfectionism? Is it a need to be the best? I am not sure, but what I do know is that Yoda did say it best and someone already use the quote in these comments. Just keeping doing what it is that you do and don’t think about it too much! You have people who like what you write and read it whether they like it or not. So just keep writing and we will keep reading!

    So that is that about being epic. But what I also sense is that you are questioning this need to be epic as you not living your truth. Do you feel that this desire to be epic is somehow not your truth? Or that by not writing what is authentically going on and then not posting it because it isn’t epic enough means that you are somehow sidestepping the truth? It’s an interesting question because I often find myself editing posts or trying to be insightful about what I do post only to limit and potentially dilute my message. This post of yours is beautiful because it really is the TRUTH! It is totally honest and because of that it is absolutely epic and essential to your message. Be who you are. Talk about it. Don’t be ashamed… live your truth!

    #thatisall (love that ;)

  • http://angelretreat.wordpress.com/ lorrie

    hey even just a few lines are great to hear from you good job for posting

  • http://angelretreat.wordpress.com/ lorrie

    hey even just a few lines are great to hear from you good job for posting

  • Pingback: How to be Epic | Couch Surfing Ori

  • http://www.taru.com Taru Fisher

    OK – in my world, what is, is and what ain't ain't. In a world of non-separation, all is welcomed – epic, not epic…. You are who you are, warts and all and acceptance of all of it is true freedom. I'm not always successful at accepting myself and floating in that delicious bath of freedom, but I have learned that when I just “am” without judgment, it is the space where creativity, and love, and joy lives.

    Your humanness resonates deeply with me, and I hope you keep on keeping on–just like you are.

  • http://www.taru.com Taru Fisher

    OK – in my world, what is, is and what ain’t ain’t. In a world of non-separation, all is welcomed – epic, not epic…. You are who you are, warts and all and acceptance of all of it is true freedom. I’m not always successful at accepting myself and floating in that delicious bath of freedom, but I have learned that when I just “am” without judgment, it is the space where creativity, and love, and joy lives.

    Your humanness resonates deeply with me, and I hope you keep on keeping on–just like you are.

  • http://www.fatbrokeandalone.com/ Rachel Stivers

    What he said (ahockley). Honesty is epic. Always.

    Which might be where reality shows get hung up (the honesty thing).

  • http://www.fatbrokeandalone.com/ Rachel Stivers

    Scary yes, but the unfinished, unpolished version of you is what people want (or maybe I should just speak for myself). It is interesting and amazing because it is real.

    I'm not all that finished or polished. ..so I don't resonate with people who always have their sh#$ together and want me to join them on their mountain of guruness (and btw, I have never gotten that impression from you). Writing is about opening your soul and letting others peek inside. Anything else rings false.

    Blog whenever you want. If a schedule works, do that. If it doesn't then don't. Blog about whatever you want.

    And this post about not being epic was awesome and amazing.. .and quite epic. Epic is in the eye of the beholder. :)

  • http://www.fatbrokeandalone.com/ Rachel Stivers

    What he said (ahockley). Honesty is epic. Always.

    Which might be where reality shows get hung up (the honesty thing).

  • http://www.fatbrokeandalone.com/ Rachel Stivers

    Scary yes, but the unfinished, unpolished version of you is what people want (or maybe I should just speak for myself). It is interesting and amazing because it is real.

    I'm not all that finished or polished. ..so I don't resonate with people who always have their sh#$ together and want me to join them on their mountain of guruness (and btw, I have never gotten that impression from you). Writing is about opening your soul and letting others peek inside. Anything else rings false.

    Blog whenever you want. If a schedule works, do that. If it doesn't then don't. Blog about whatever you want.

    And this post about not being epic was awesome and amazing.. .and quite epic. Epic is in the eye of the beholder. :)

  • http://www.coastersfurnitures.com/marble-coasters/ Marble Coasters

    What an
    excellent concept, & a great article! Congratulations all around!

  • Pingback: (whine) I don't wanna write a blog post! | Elizabeth Potts Weinstein

← Older Comments