Perspective holds power.
In this Edition:
Quote.
Update & Motivate: Perspective.
Book talk.
New Onyx Podcast: All the works are up!
Final thoughts.
Update:
When I first started email newsletters, I watched my “open rates.”
See, whenever I start to create a new newsletter, the first page I’m forced to look at is what percentage of people opened my last newsletter. Essentially, how many people wanted to spend a moment of their day reading what I had to say.
The last one? 57% of the 100% of people I sent to, a little over half opened it. (I send it to myself for quality control, and I’m always going to open my emails. ;-)
So nearly half of the people who signed up don’t read it.
This should hurt my feelings, right?
It doesn’t. Wanna know why?
It’s all about perspective.
Not that long ago, I would’ve seen this as a personal flaw. But February 2021 started a life upheaval that changed how I looked at the world and interacted with it. I’ll share more about that in February, on the anniversary of when we suddenly fostered 6 kids.
The thing is, it’s easy to focus on the 43% who don’t open my emails and become saddened by it.
However, there are some things (in this particular scenario) I need to look it.
Logically, newsletters are all over the place, and people only have so much time. It’s actually selfish to think 100% of people have the time to open my letters.
Is my importance defined by others?
Here’s the biggest thing: according to the internet, a good email open-rate is between 17-28%.
So I could spent time lamenting over something negative or I can get my facts straight and realize, this is great!
There’s such a fine line between celebrating and being sad.
I’m using this as an example because it sparks thought of a global truth: I think we spend a lot of time feeling insufficient, self-conscious, and simply lacking. And sometimes it takes stepping back and looking at a scenario, how it REALLY is vs. how we THINK it is.
Do you ever get worked up because someone didn’t call when they said they were going to? Or something didn’t go as you’d planned? There are so many small situations in life that can sour our moods. And a lot of them are preventable.
We can’t always know WHY something happens, but if we stop letting unknowns control us, I venture to say, we’ll be happier. It’s such a freer way to live.
This blog post really isn’t about who opens my emails and who doesn’t, but it’s the feeling that could surround the numbers IF I let it or was uninformed. And I’m thinking some of you may have similar things in life that COULD bring you down IF you let them.
The question is, will you let them?
The other question is, how do you stop letting the little things bother you? An attitude shift can be hard. That’s beyond the scope of this newsletter, but there is a way! And the first thing to do is try.
I hope you embrace the positives today.
Book Talk:
Here’s what I’m currently reading:
Wrong Place, Wrong Time (Still). Honestly, I haven’t picked it up again. I didn’t realize how hard it was for me to read physical books anymore. OR maybe I’m not drawn into this one as much as I’d hoped? Time will tell.
I gave up on Something Wilder by Christina Lauren. I usually love their work, but phew, I tried to like this one, and it was just…ridiculous to me. At 35%, it jumped the shark. I was rolling my eyes so much, I knew I needed to stop listening to the audiobook.
I did start reading (listening to) Lie To Me by J.T. Ellison. I’m 30% in and enjoying it a lot.
New Onyx Podcast: All the contest winners are up!
There are 6 short stories and poetry collections to choose from. And you can listen to me and JW interview the authors behind these fun works!
Check them out here.
Final thoughts:
Negativity will eat you alive. You’ll be more successful when you focus on the positive.
And I don’t know who Martha Graham is, but the quote at the top of the email struck me today, so I’m including it here too:
“What people in the world think of you is really none of your business.”
What a freeing thought.
Be your best. Be you. And let go of the people who don’t want what you offer. You won’t be for everyone. Embrace and treasure those who DO want you.
Until next week, much glitter,
Melissa
p.s. Loving this blog? Get my weekly content: timely updates, book reviews, book bonuses, essentially, ways to love yourself, others, and books! And get email-only specials. Sign up for my weekly newsletter. If you want a free short story: use this link to sign up: https://www.melissacollings.com/freeshortstoryjustdesserts.
