Tag Archives: new beginnings

Letting Expectations Go in 2025

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When an unpredictable rainstorm swept through my town on the eve of my 23rd birthday, I thought it was unfortunate, but I didn’t let it get my spirits down. A couple months later, when my entire city and nearby towns completely lost electricity for multiple days in the thick of Texas’ summer, I tried to keep reminding myself, “I’m not the only one going through this.” However it was the fact that this mass power outage just so happened to occur over the same week that months before, I had pre-planned to release my debut book, that made it difficult to not question if this was more that just a stroke of bad luck.

If you know me, then you know I try to remain positive in any situation thrown my way. I’ve gone through too many trials and tribulations in my life to let the small inconveniences break me. A quote I still live by, five years after first introducing it on this very blog, is the words of Victor Frankl, who said “Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.” I cannot divine when a patch of rain will turn into a flood, I cannot control when strong winds will shut off electricity for thousands, nor for how long. What I can control, is the decision to remain positive in any given situation, to understand that all storms will eventually pass.

If this year has taught me anything, it’s that you can have everything planned out according to the way you hope things pan out, but things almost never actually happen in the precise way we would like. Expectations only lead to disappointment, so expect nothing. Do not fear the unexpected, for all you could ever dream of could just be awaiting you. Dream big, set goals, and work hard, but expect nothing. What’s meant for you, in time, shall be yours.

I used to dream of having my articles published by a big time company, or to have my works published on bookshelves across every bookstore. When I realized that this dream in reality was just too far beyond my reach, I redirected my focus and took matters into my own hands. This year, I self-published my very first book—something I never thought I was capable of doing. I can now say, “I am a published author”, because I stopped tying myself down to the expectations I had set upon myself.

So did I ever imagine I’d be celebrating my debut book’s release in the passenger seat of the car as we were going on almost three days without power, in the loosest-fitting close we could find to accommodate the Texas summer heat, just begging for one bar of service so I could share this moment with the world? Absolutely not. But I also never expected to see my name printed on the cover of a book. I never expected even one person would buy my works, but I made a promise to myself one year ago, and all of that—I accomplished in 2024.

So while I vow to free myself from the burden of expectations, I will continue to believe in the power of manifestation, I will keep faith in myself and continue to work hard to achieve everything I set upon in this life.

Poems and Promises: Setting Intentions for 2024

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When I first started this blog site, I had no blueprint, no central focus or direction I had in mind to follow, all I knew is that I wanted a space where I could have a collection of my works to share with whoever may care to read them. Since it’s launch, I’ve written a variety of pieces, from my strong suit—a journalistic, editorial style on an array of topics to stream of consciousness pieces, sharing my expansive thoughts in a conversational tone.

From the beginning, I’ve dabbled in creative writing, narratives, as well as sharing the poetry that I wrote as part of assignments when I was in high school. I’ve never considered poetry a strength of mine, until I started challenging myself to write more of it this past year.

This year, of the nine months that I shared a blog, six were poems. Before, I used to believe I could never write something as complex as poetry, but now, I absolutely love it. Give another read to any of my poetry or prose pieces here: https://faith-it-til-you-make-it.com/category/poetry-prose/

I always had the impression that you had to have an abundance of life experience in order to ever write poetry, but I’ve learned that’s not true whatsoever. Many of my poems aren’t based on my own personal life at all, rather just on a concept or ideal that I used the power of creativity to turn into a poem that perhaps someone reading could relate to.

In every one of my New Year’s blogs, I like to reflect on all I’ve accomplished as an ever-improving writer, as well as set intentions for the new year—promises to myself, so to speak. I feel that if we think of our goals as intentions, something we actively intend to pursue rather than mere wishful thinking, we will be more inclined to put the utmost effort into holding ourselves accountable until we accomplish them.

So, in 2024 I promise to keep writing more poetry. When before I would shy away from the things that intimidate me, I will not let self-limiting behaviors and fear of the unknown hold me back from accomplishing all that I could ever dream of. I will shoot for the stars and approach every day knowing that, whats meant for me, will happen in time.

I promise to give myself necessary breaks and not feel guilty about it, because even when I’m not creating, I will still always be a creator. I am a writer. I will not allow myself to fall into creative burnout and exhaust my passion just because I feel like I have to keep creating and keep producing works on a consistent basis.

post credit: @inspiredtowrite, Amy McNee, on Instagram

I promise to write for me, and nobody else. I will not let views and likes affect my motivation to keep working towards everything I’ve ever wanted.

I promise to open my eyes to and more meticulously observe every overlooked detail in the world around me, to drive my creativity and inspire my writings.

In the new year, I want to work towards bigger and better things, the things I know I can accomplish. I want to have my works in print someday, so to myself, I promise to hold myself to higher standards and put in the effort necessary for me to reach my full potential, no matter how long it may take me. I will go out of my comfort zone and rely less on this blog site as the sole vessel for my art.

post credit: @inspiredtowrite, Amy McNee, on Instagram

While I will never let recognition define the validity of my success, I will seek opportunities to share my works on a bigger scale—whatever that may look like for me. So if you see less of me on here, not to worry, that just means I’m fulfilling the promises I’ve made to myself and creating more than I ever have before.

While I’m still an avid advocate of manifestation, I’ve newly started to shift my mindset to treating the things we would like to see for ourselves, our intentions, as promises because if you were promised something, would you like for it to ever be broken? I’ve set no time table for myself, and choose to take on life with patience, one day at a time, because success has no deadline.

While 2023 brought on growth and newfound self-assurance, here’s to poems and promises in 2024!

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You can revisit all my creative writing pieces to date, including poems and narratives, here: https://faith-it-til-you-make-it.com/category/creative-writing/

Happy New Year!🥳