Three thing I learned from my least read blog post ever

On Friday, I wrote a blog post. When I posted it, I thought it was a solid post that would connect with people.

It didn’t.

Because no one read it.

Seriously.

It was my least read blog post ever.

If you were one of the 21 people who read it, I owe you breakfast. Or a hug. Or something.

It’s a weird feeling when you step into your insecurities and do something you’re proud only for it to be recognized by next to no one.

First you’re confused: Why is no one paying attention? Maybe I should tell more people about it.

Then you’re even more insecure: Well maybe it wasn’t any good. I wouldn’t pay attention to bad quality either.

And then you begin questioning yourself: Maybe I’m not even that good? What if those other things I did that people liked were just a fluke? Should I even keep writing if no one is paying attention?

It was a strange day to say the least. Working through all these emotions and questions made me feel things I haven’t felt in a long time.

Suddenly the struggles I’d worked so hard to overcome over the past five years came running back into my head like long lost friends excited to see me again.

As I processed through all these emotions, I came to three simple conclusions:

1) Success isn’t reliant on the acceptance of others.

I’m an acceptance whore. That’s strong language, but it’s true. I so need to be accepted that I’ll change my personality so I can be accepted by whoever I’m around. In some ways, that’s great. In others, it’s deadly. What no one reading my blog post showed me is that people accepting and agreeing with what I write or do isn’t the definition of success. Success is stepping into what I feel God is calling me to do and who he’s calling me to be. Some will like it. Some won’t. But I can’t choose what I do based on other’s acceptance. I have to choose what I do based on what God is inviting me, personally, to do.

What is God calling you to do that you’re refusing to do because others might not accept it?

2) Success is saying yes, not being told yes.

God’s given me an ability to process and write my thoughts in a way that’s unique to me. Some people like it. Some don’t. That part doesn’t matter. What matters is that I use the gifts given to me in the best way possible. That may mean only 21 people read a blog post and that’s okay. That also might mean that people like and share a post and it gets hundreds or thousands of views. While those moments feel incredible, they can’t be the basis for what I consider successful.

How are you not using your gifts because you’re afraid others won’t accept or value them?

3) God will always use our insecurities to teach us something if we let him.

I could’ve sat around sulking on Friday afternoon playing the poor pitiful me card. It would’ve been easy and no one (other than me) would’ve been hurt by it. Instead, I tried to learn from it. I asked God to show me what the things I was feeling meant. I invited him to shine a light into the dark parts of my brain and reveal what was going on. It was a hard experience, but it was worth it.

What can God show you about yourself through the things you’re experiencing right now?

Friday was weird.

Friday was good.

When’s the last time you had a day like my Friday?

What’d you learn from it?

I’d love to hear in the comments.

Say your prayers and take your vitamins.

Have a nice day.

-Jonathan

PS – I’d love for you to take two seconds to rate this post below. It’s totally anonymous but it helps me improve as a writer and let’s me know what’s connecting with you the reader. Thanks a bunch!