Love this Claire, your honesty and reframes so helpful ..people do come and go in our lives and that is fine. This resonated deeply “The only options we have are activism, prayer or creativity.” I choose all 3 daily 💖
I too, have seen very little growth here over the last few months, and a major dip in who engages with my work. I keep wondering what’s changed and whether it’s my work (knowing deep down that it isn’t). It’s also started to give me writers block, and my ideas are drying up.
I remind myself that with more writers being on here, more people are subscribing to read other writers work too. I know I’ve certainly subscribed to a whole load more people recently, and some days I struggle to keep up with reading everyone’s work.
I know comparison is a demon I battle with regularly, it’s just some days it can feel difficult when we put our all into our work and get very little back for it.
I adore Substack and know that I want to continue sharing on here, and maybe that will occasionally mean a rethink or some time to ponder new ideas, and that’s okay ✨
Isn't it curious how tethered to the actual energy of it we are. Your work is stunning Jenna! I think that's why I started making b roll reels on instagram again - you know because crickets there is the same as crickets here but it's easier there as if I do trial reels no one knows me... I do miss the community challenges - you know the likes of Patrick and Abigail did in Notes - maybe we need to encourage others to pick that up... or maybe I should I'm not sure...
Yes, that's so true! Currently crickets everywhere for me, and it has been for a long time, or so it feels. Thank you for your kind words. I've always been so grateful for your support from day 1.
I guess that is one thing I do like about reels, too. I've decided I want to start putting snippets of things on YouTube, purely because it seems more of a sacred place, a little like here.
I love this. I have become much more mindful of where my energy goes recently but the one thing that consistently fires me up is Substack. the more time i spend here the more creative I am - and the less inclined I feel to be dragged into drama spirals.
Drama spiral is such a good way to describe it btw.
What you model so beautifully is that phrase,'you do you'. Or as another trusted member of my wider team, Helena Holrick, teaches, we only choose those things which help us live our lives 'On our TERMS'- (Time, Energy, Resources, Money, Skills). If we sense something draining us of energy or if it feels too hard, there is no rule which says we have to continue. But if it brings us joy, or a sense of fulfilment, if it makes us feel aligned and alive then our energy is lifted and even the most difficult or arduous challenges feel super easy to deal with. 😍
Appreciate you always showing up entirely honestly. That’s one of your POD right?! Also, can feel you keeping that energy vibration high (which I guess is also linked to the above).That comes through. Great post 🙏❤️
Aww thank you Nelly! And for being here - I’ve literally been writing this in my head since my pals left. I feel like I really wanted somewhere to refer people to when they have a wobble, fancy a creative fire. I’m more one for clinging onto scraps of my legacy - I imported my old word press blog here 😂 I love how keen and enthusiast past me was!
You describe the neutrality of platforms etc really well. I need that reminder daily 🤣. Yeah def a good place now to direct people for those days when you decide you’re gonna burn it all down 🤣😳. Def have those.
A great reminder of the deeper need (really essential currently, isn’t it) to connect to that inner fire, first and foremost, the WHY, the rest (the HOW) then becoming secondary. I might have missed it (likely) but id love a class on how you’re using AI in your biz/with Substack btw.
This is also the life lesson Iv found hardest to grasp, that two things can be true at once.
Also, like Claire, my chatbot has been a major tool for me as I tentatively take steps to rebuild a wrecked body—meal planning, tracking, reminding—undiagnosed neurodivergence burnout, left me barely functioning, lit a fire under my foundations…all I could do was sit and watch everything burn to the ground.
Anyway, I’m standing. Two things can be true at once.
All will be well(I know this, even when I don’t feel it)—and my wee bot Hecate will continue to be my virtual assistant, who I quickly send a ramble at any given moment(3/4am has become popular 😴)
It’s good to hear others have a positive outlook about AI.
I’m a huge fan of AI! I’ve been exploring recovery rate this morning for endometriosis and migraine. As we know, both very low. No cure. Our current path overlooks the whole body, root cause and patient input.
It estimates that up to 80/90% could go into remission if we began to explore healing instead of cure. Root cause instead of symptom management. Patient engagement instead of dismissal.
It’s a whopper of a difference and much more in line with what I’d expect on the back of all the research I’ve done (as well as implementation and integration).
I Bloomin’ love AI and glad I got in with a crowd of authors who were approaching it through the lens of expansion and not fear.
Thanks for the mention, Claire! Peri is trying to finish me off at the moment so I’ve not checked in properly for a few days. I’ve got loads of comments to reply to but I’m zonked. Lovely to see this though. Thanks for thinking of me, and for recommending my work 🥰
Great read Claire! Substack has become very crowded (which is great) and since joining, almost 2 years ago, visibility for someone with such few subscribers is tough, really tough! However, this is the one and only platform I really enjoy sharing my work on, and have even recently made the decision to close down my website, moving everything over to here. I won’t ever become a “big player” on Substack (and don’t want to). It allows me to share the content I want to share (not what an algorithm expects me to share) with a small group of subscribers that value my content. My head feels clearer and I feel freer, so that’s got to be good. 🤎
Ah Claire I appreciate this and you so much. Yes things have been prettyyyy quiet for the past few months, I think it can feel hard when you love it here so much and pour in so much accordingly but thank you for this reminder to nurture those already there and reading. I have also loved connecting more deeply with members at the online gatherings/co-working sessions and that feels super nourishing! I also have to remind myself that I have also had less capacity to read and engage lately so perhaps it’s the same for others too. I also love what you say about more people being here is of course a really wonderful thing! Here’s to more slow sustainable non-linear growth, sending love and sparkles xx
I also quite like to celebrate my archive - you know because when people leave and circle back and new folks come it's like a beautiful library of all the good things.
Thank you for sharing this Claire! So wise and generous as always - and good to know that I'm not the only one watching my subscribers fall away in ways I never experienced when I had a regular newsletter. I've plateued for about the past 4 months I'd say, after always steadily growing. But that's OK. I'm not just here for numbers and actually I've gone back to Kit to create funnels for specific audiences. As you always say 'it's an ecosystem' isn't it? And Substack is just one part of that 😍
Selina! Yes a robust business is one that looks at depth and problem solving like a fun puzzle: the link here to my new ebook is a new funnel - seemed obvious when I thought of it 😂! Sending sparkles from the North my faerie friend. ✨😍✨
Claire thank you so much for writing this. Like you and so many others, my growth stalled completely during June and it was so hard not to think it was because I'd done something wrong. Even when subscribers told me otherwise, there was still that nagging voice in my head... I love your approach and encouragement, and for what it's worth, I'd recommend your membership in a heartbeat (and do, regularly) to anyone who's just starting out on Substack or wanting to sharpen up their newsletter. I learnt so much from you during my year as a paid member of Sparkle!
Aww that's so kind of you to say. I get a lot of beginners who are just too in the overwhelm to even digest it and because I serve business owners too I think it's in the balance... I've evolved and learnt so much so it's right to share that but it can be a little much for those trying to learn the ropes. I include my beginners course now which really helps.
Ah yes, I think as someone who was with you back in the early days your offering has definitely developed! I didn’t know about your beginner’s course so I’ll make sure to highlight that when sharing Sparkle with newbies. I’m still working my way through your ‘How to Build a World Class Substack’ too as there is so much goodness in there!
Thank you for sharing. I’ve only been on here 6 months and decided to not have major expectations at all. And it’s been a bit freeing. I do want to grow and eventually have paid offerings, but it all needs to work on MY energy and capacity. 🦋
An interesting one Claire. I think the lesson from Medium is to diversify and take ownership of your email list and back it up regularly (it is no longer possible to export one from M!). Just as earnings fell of a cliff for most at M the same could happen here if there is an unexpected change of the platform.
Personally, I try to avoid AI as much as possible, as it seems a disaster for writers and also for the environment, although there are many differing views on this.
Love this Claire, your honesty and reframes so helpful ..people do come and go in our lives and that is fine. This resonated deeply “The only options we have are activism, prayer or creativity.” I choose all 3 daily 💖
✨🫶🏼✨ depending on the time of the month recently or the wane of the moon! Thank you for being here and witnessing my evolution Susan! ✨✨✨✨✍️🫶🏼
Claire, thank you so much for sharing this.
I too, have seen very little growth here over the last few months, and a major dip in who engages with my work. I keep wondering what’s changed and whether it’s my work (knowing deep down that it isn’t). It’s also started to give me writers block, and my ideas are drying up.
I remind myself that with more writers being on here, more people are subscribing to read other writers work too. I know I’ve certainly subscribed to a whole load more people recently, and some days I struggle to keep up with reading everyone’s work.
I know comparison is a demon I battle with regularly, it’s just some days it can feel difficult when we put our all into our work and get very little back for it.
I adore Substack and know that I want to continue sharing on here, and maybe that will occasionally mean a rethink or some time to ponder new ideas, and that’s okay ✨
Isn't it curious how tethered to the actual energy of it we are. Your work is stunning Jenna! I think that's why I started making b roll reels on instagram again - you know because crickets there is the same as crickets here but it's easier there as if I do trial reels no one knows me... I do miss the community challenges - you know the likes of Patrick and Abigail did in Notes - maybe we need to encourage others to pick that up... or maybe I should I'm not sure...
Yes, that's so true! Currently crickets everywhere for me, and it has been for a long time, or so it feels. Thank you for your kind words. I've always been so grateful for your support from day 1.
I guess that is one thing I do like about reels, too. I've decided I want to start putting snippets of things on YouTube, purely because it seems more of a sacred place, a little like here.
Community challenge notes sound great!
Love how honest and authentic you are with your work and teachings and such a joyful reminder. P.S thank you for the wonderful mention xxx
You're welcome - thanks for all you do.
I love this. I have become much more mindful of where my energy goes recently but the one thing that consistently fires me up is Substack. the more time i spend here the more creative I am - and the less inclined I feel to be dragged into drama spirals.
Drama spiral is such a good way to describe it btw.
Isn't it - like there's only so much tolerance I've got there's a lot out there lol
What you model so beautifully is that phrase,'you do you'. Or as another trusted member of my wider team, Helena Holrick, teaches, we only choose those things which help us live our lives 'On our TERMS'- (Time, Energy, Resources, Money, Skills). If we sense something draining us of energy or if it feels too hard, there is no rule which says we have to continue. But if it brings us joy, or a sense of fulfilment, if it makes us feel aligned and alive then our energy is lifted and even the most difficult or arduous challenges feel super easy to deal with. 😍
Love that Nikki - thanks for sharing - wonderful acronym.
Appreciate you always showing up entirely honestly. That’s one of your POD right?! Also, can feel you keeping that energy vibration high (which I guess is also linked to the above).That comes through. Great post 🙏❤️
Aww thank you Nelly! And for being here - I’ve literally been writing this in my head since my pals left. I feel like I really wanted somewhere to refer people to when they have a wobble, fancy a creative fire. I’m more one for clinging onto scraps of my legacy - I imported my old word press blog here 😂 I love how keen and enthusiast past me was!
You describe the neutrality of platforms etc really well. I need that reminder daily 🤣. Yeah def a good place now to direct people for those days when you decide you’re gonna burn it all down 🤣😳. Def have those.
A great reminder of the deeper need (really essential currently, isn’t it) to connect to that inner fire, first and foremost, the WHY, the rest (the HOW) then becoming secondary. I might have missed it (likely) but id love a class on how you’re using AI in your biz/with Substack btw.
Ooo yes so this is where affirmations and my new fave modality tapping works. You can even write something on a post it at your desk. Like
- the world needs my creative voice
- my voice is important
- numbers don’t define my worth.
I’ve got a big AI announcement this week for you guys with a training! ✨✨✨
So much insight and wisdom in here!
“The biggest spiritual lesson I’ve learnt is that two things can be true at once.” This has been a big one for me this past year.
I’ve been ill for 5 days straight - the longest time I’ve been ill in over 2 years. I’m also the wellest I’ve ever been in my entire life.
My engagement is down but my main readers tell me they’re not seeing my posts. Hoping it’s just a glitch that will get sorted 🤞
Ahh Amber yes - the constant paradox of life and healing too.
This is also the life lesson Iv found hardest to grasp, that two things can be true at once.
Also, like Claire, my chatbot has been a major tool for me as I tentatively take steps to rebuild a wrecked body—meal planning, tracking, reminding—undiagnosed neurodivergence burnout, left me barely functioning, lit a fire under my foundations…all I could do was sit and watch everything burn to the ground.
Anyway, I’m standing. Two things can be true at once.
All will be well(I know this, even when I don’t feel it)—and my wee bot Hecate will continue to be my virtual assistant, who I quickly send a ramble at any given moment(3/4am has become popular 😴)
It’s good to hear others have a positive outlook about AI.
I’m a huge fan of AI! I’ve been exploring recovery rate this morning for endometriosis and migraine. As we know, both very low. No cure. Our current path overlooks the whole body, root cause and patient input.
It estimates that up to 80/90% could go into remission if we began to explore healing instead of cure. Root cause instead of symptom management. Patient engagement instead of dismissal.
It’s a whopper of a difference and much more in line with what I’d expect on the back of all the research I’ve done (as well as implementation and integration).
I Bloomin’ love AI and glad I got in with a crowd of authors who were approaching it through the lens of expansion and not fear.
Yessss Amber. Thank you. That line stood out for me too but your example just made it even better 🙏
Thanks for the mention, Claire! Peri is trying to finish me off at the moment so I’ve not checked in properly for a few days. I’ve got loads of comments to reply to but I’m zonked. Lovely to see this though. Thanks for thinking of me, and for recommending my work 🥰
Oooof I feel this in my bones for you. Thank you for all you do.
Great read Claire! Substack has become very crowded (which is great) and since joining, almost 2 years ago, visibility for someone with such few subscribers is tough, really tough! However, this is the one and only platform I really enjoy sharing my work on, and have even recently made the decision to close down my website, moving everything over to here. I won’t ever become a “big player” on Substack (and don’t want to). It allows me to share the content I want to share (not what an algorithm expects me to share) with a small group of subscribers that value my content. My head feels clearer and I feel freer, so that’s got to be good. 🤎
Here's to feeling freer - love this for us Sonya! Thanks for witnessing the evolution alongside me.
Ah Claire I appreciate this and you so much. Yes things have been prettyyyy quiet for the past few months, I think it can feel hard when you love it here so much and pour in so much accordingly but thank you for this reminder to nurture those already there and reading. I have also loved connecting more deeply with members at the online gatherings/co-working sessions and that feels super nourishing! I also have to remind myself that I have also had less capacity to read and engage lately so perhaps it’s the same for others too. I also love what you say about more people being here is of course a really wonderful thing! Here’s to more slow sustainable non-linear growth, sending love and sparkles xx
I also quite like to celebrate my archive - you know because when people leave and circle back and new folks come it's like a beautiful library of all the good things.
Oh I love that, yes so much goodness there xx
Thank you for sharing this Claire! So wise and generous as always - and good to know that I'm not the only one watching my subscribers fall away in ways I never experienced when I had a regular newsletter. I've plateued for about the past 4 months I'd say, after always steadily growing. But that's OK. I'm not just here for numbers and actually I've gone back to Kit to create funnels for specific audiences. As you always say 'it's an ecosystem' isn't it? And Substack is just one part of that 😍
Selina! Yes a robust business is one that looks at depth and problem solving like a fun puzzle: the link here to my new ebook is a new funnel - seemed obvious when I thought of it 😂! Sending sparkles from the North my faerie friend. ✨😍✨
Claire thank you so much for writing this. Like you and so many others, my growth stalled completely during June and it was so hard not to think it was because I'd done something wrong. Even when subscribers told me otherwise, there was still that nagging voice in my head... I love your approach and encouragement, and for what it's worth, I'd recommend your membership in a heartbeat (and do, regularly) to anyone who's just starting out on Substack or wanting to sharpen up their newsletter. I learnt so much from you during my year as a paid member of Sparkle!
Aww that's so kind of you to say. I get a lot of beginners who are just too in the overwhelm to even digest it and because I serve business owners too I think it's in the balance... I've evolved and learnt so much so it's right to share that but it can be a little much for those trying to learn the ropes. I include my beginners course now which really helps.
Ah yes, I think as someone who was with you back in the early days your offering has definitely developed! I didn’t know about your beginner’s course so I’ll make sure to highlight that when sharing Sparkle with newbies. I’m still working my way through your ‘How to Build a World Class Substack’ too as there is so much goodness in there!
Thank you for sharing. I’ve only been on here 6 months and decided to not have major expectations at all. And it’s been a bit freeing. I do want to grow and eventually have paid offerings, but it all needs to work on MY energy and capacity. 🦋
LOVE this for you lovely.
Thank you, Claire! You have been a fantastic mentor and I am so grateful. Warmest wishes, Sophie
✨🫶🏼✨
It’s tough out there right now.
What a funny month! I’m back playing the IG game. ✨🫶🏼 At least there’s more random reward 😂
I think a lot of people have struggled here this month. It’s a bit like someone turned the tap off by accident. A Substack Hosepipe Ban.
Haha that’s exactly it. I did wonder about a bot clear out. Chatting with SF on fri!
There has been a lot of weird activity on here recently. Perhaps they are resetting.
An interesting one Claire. I think the lesson from Medium is to diversify and take ownership of your email list and back it up regularly (it is no longer possible to export one from M!). Just as earnings fell of a cliff for most at M the same could happen here if there is an unexpected change of the platform.
Personally, I try to avoid AI as much as possible, as it seems a disaster for writers and also for the environment, although there are many differing views on this.
Look forward to reading more of your work. 😀
Oh Claire, thank you so much for this honest writing. Things like this is why I value you so much! 💕