Embracing Creation Over Statistics: A Personal Journey
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Chapter 1: The Allure of Statistics
At one point, I decided to stop obsessively checking my statistics on Medium. This choice significantly improved my mental well-being.
Photo by Luca Bravo on Unsplash
When I began to take Medium seriously and overcame my self-doubt, I discovered one of its most valuable features: tracking my statistics. I could monitor the real-time engagement with my posts, including how many people viewed them, how many read through, and my earnings. Initially, this was exhilarating, but over time, I noticed how deeply these numbers influenced my mindset. I found myself becoming increasingly fixated on them.
Having immediate access to my stats was exhilarating. It provided a sense of control that was starkly different from waiting for claps, comments, or highlights. The absence of interaction on the post did not truly reflect the number of readers it attracted.
I began to refresh my stats page every few hours, then even more frequently. It became a ritual—I was eager to witness my views and reads climb. It was exhilarating to observe my stories gaining traction.
Eventually, I dedicated more time to monitoring my stats than to creating new content. I logged into Medium regularly, yet I was not producing any new writing because my focus was solely on evaluating the performance of previous pieces. I convinced myself that this was necessary to understand my audience better, believing that this knowledge would guide my future writing.
This fixation on tracking my growth became an obsession that hampered my creativity. I was so consumed by the need for validation that I lost sight of the joy of writing.
Section 1.1: The Validation Trap
Experiencing an increase in reads brought me immense joy. It felt like a confirmation of my worth as a writer. I thought, “If my work is being read, it must have value.” In my mind, if no one was engaging with my posts, it meant my writing was lacking.
I found myself clinging to this external approval through the metrics of reads. While comments and claps were appreciated, reads represented something more profound. Consider this: a product might be purchased by thousands but receive only a handful of reviews. That’s how I perceived my reads.
To me, the number of reads equated to my worth as a writer. However, chasing this validation became detrimental. I realized I didn’t value my writing unless it was backed by substantial reads. Through this experience, I gleaned a few important lessons.
Subsection 1.1.1: Key Takeaways
- An obsession with external approval regarding your writing is unhealthy.
- The validation of others holds no value if you don’t appreciate your own work.
- Even if your writing resonates with just one person, it is worth creating. Don’t shy away from the possibility that one person may be you.
If you find yourself overly focused on statistics, I encourage you to take a break from checking them. Write freely without worrying about the number of readers. Release yourself from the constraints of seeking validation through popularity.
Do you enjoy what you write? That’s the only affirmation you truly need. Many individuals hesitate to share their ideas due to the fear that no one will read them. By choosing to share your words, you create something far more valuable than you might realize.
Chapter 2: Moving Forward with Confidence
This video titled "Medium Stats for Beginners (complete breakdown)" provides insight into understanding Medium's statistics and how they can influence your writing journey.
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