One of the reasons why I wanted to write this blog is to get more comfortable with writing, including writing emails. And it really is working!

For the first time I was able to get through my inbox (well, one of them) and reply to all messages without much discomfort. Before it would take me forever and more likely I wouldn’t get through all of it. Now I was even able to reply to people whom I hadn’t responded for months. Before it required tremendous amount of willpower and cajoling myself into doing it. Now I dealt with them quickly one by one. Victory dance!

I have wondered for a while why I have so much aversion to email. I think it goes back to college where I believed that writing emails was not an efficient use of my time. Homework wasn’t getting done that way, projects weren’t getting done that way, so I de-prioritized email to the very bottom. Since I had so much to do I never got to responding to emails, unless it was very urgent.

Now of course I have a different perspective. Work runs on email. I also recognize that friendships and connections are very important to me and email (including other written communication forms, like FB messages) is one way to re-connect with people. Also, a tremendous value can be created by introducing two people, which nowadays often happens via email.

Also, over time I recognized that it takes time to write emails and I have to schedule time to do it. However this – being emotionally comfortable at writing them – was the final bit to overcome aversion to writing emails.

Another unexpected side effect of writing this blog is that I’m not afraid anymore of sharing my thoughts and ideas. I suppose I was afraid that my thoughts and ideas were not good enough and it is better to not share them so that I don’t have to find out that in fact they are not good. Now it does not matter. My thoughts and ideas are part of me, and I’m completely happy with who I am, so now I don’t care whether other people like my thoughts and ideas or not. If they don’t like them because of snap judgement or feelings, that is their problem not mine. 🙂 Though, I always welcome thoughtful criticism as it is a way for me to learn and grow.

This shift in my thinking is going to be huge (for one, it allowed me to write such an open blog post like this)!