Hey Reader!

I’ve been a champion procrastinator for decades. By which I mean a gold medal, top of the podium, national-anthem-inspiring queen of doing it later. Often much, much later.

I guess it shouldn’t have been a surprise to discover that procrastination is just another sneaky outlet for anxiety.

When I’m scared or stressed or uneasy I retreat to my vast list of Things I’d Rather Be Doing and abandon that one thing that would actually move the needle on my peace of mind.

But I’m getting better about attacking the thing I want with all my heart to ignore, whether that’s spending an hour on the phone with the insurance company or finally sending my aunt a much-overdue letter.

It feels so good when it’s finally done, which then begs the question - why didn’t I accomplish this task weeks (months? years?) ago?

Because there was something about that task that triggered my fear, or shame, or self-doubt.

I don’t put off writing newsletters very often because we’re generally on friendly terms. But I know plenty of people who would rather break up a fight among pit bulls than sit down to a blank page and try to write a cheery, persuasive missive to their audience.

I get it. It might trigger all of YOUR feelings of doubt and shame and any other uglies that hide in your subconscious, ready to jump out at the most inopportune times.

But! Here at Newsletter Therapy we do not stop because we’re uncomfortable!

We soldier on, practicing, practicing, practicing, because that is what makes us better at things.

I’m not really a therapist, but if I were I might tell you that this is the time to relax your nervous system, do some slow, deep breathing, and remind yourself that you are smart, you are competent, you are good at many things.

And this does not have to be perfect!

In fact, it’s probably better if it’s not.

Because the point of the newsletter is to make yourself visible, quirks and all. It’s a chance to show people who you are and why working with you is different from working with any other person out there in the world.

Perfectly polished prose does not send that message.

Keep practicing being as you as you can - that’s going to make writing a whole lot easier.

xo, Julia

Each week I give you ideas for making your writing (and sending) life a little better. Here's what I've got for you this week.

Group Therapy

So here’s some advice for getting started when you have absolutely no idea what to talk about, and you’d rather scrub your bathtub with a toothbrush than write your newsletter:

Talk to yourself while you’re doing something else.

Taking a walk, unloading the dishwasher, organizing the spices. Just noodle away in your brain or out loud. Walk yourself through it.

Here’s a sample of what that might look like. Imagine you’re tidying up the living room while this runs through your head:

Just let the ideas come and go, and it’s likely that something will start to emerge.

Then write it down, not worrying about whether you’re getting it right. You just need a few blocks of text which you will then sculpt into a lovely newsletter.

The Growth Report

Here’s what I did this week to build my mailing list.

By the way, I include this each week for several reasons. It inspires me to keep plugging away at list building; I hope it inspires you to do the same. And it reminds me that we’re all practicing, all the time.

We have to try new things, overcome discomfort, and believe in what we’re doing.

This week I:

• Mentioned this newsletter during a class I’ve been teaching
• Promoted my lead magnet on social media channels
• Posted on social media
• Talked to people about it and encouraged them to sign up

​Earth, Wind and Fire understand the power of practice, and so does this newsletter Forward it to someone who's ready to yearn and learn.

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