It's been a long journey. Longer than I thought!
Initially, I thought I would be able to compile all the recipes and publish in 2 months!
Well... that didn't quite happen. How about adding another year to those 2 months!
I first started writing about nutrition while compiling recipes the first 3 months or so, but then I thought nobody would be interested in listening to me as I have no credentials in this area. So I went back to nutrition school to get myself certified as a holistic nutritionist. That took me 6 months. Then again 2 months of really putting in the work in finishing my cookbook in 2 languages, and I still wasn't sure how I was going to publish the eBooks, or if I will ever publish them.
I thought about 3 options for publishing:
1. get it out there for free so everyone can benefit from it
2. give it away as a "freebie" for the online course I am creating
(but I shifting my focus away from nutrition so no..)
3. donate profit to an organization that I want to support
- but how do I find "the one" for my project?
When in doubt - TRAVEL!!!
That's exactly what I did!
I feel like travelling really opens up so many different possibilities, helps me open up to new thoughts, feelings and deeper self-knowledge.
I was trying to get myself away from the daily worries and how to publish my eBooks, and just be there, in the nature, in different cultures, be one with the present moment.
In my last destination, Unawatuna, Sri Lanka, by chance I stumbled upon this amazing organization that I gravitated toward SO strongly. And I thought THAT'S IT!
I came back to Canada with a newly sparked vision and goal. I was so motivated to get it out there, not letting any doubts or opinions get in the way. And it was not to make money for myself but to help this organization grow so that they can carry on helping those in need. WUNDERBAR!
Everything seemed to be falling in the right place, and I found PURPOSE for my passion project, which to be completely honest with you, had seemed pointless, worthless, and even waste of my year, in my times of doubt.
So here are what I learned from publishing my eBooks:
1. You can't wait till perfection.
Perfection does not exist. So if you're waiting for perfection, you will never get anything published or get things out there, which otherwise may help the world and others.
Just do it and put it out there. Don't be scared of rejections, judgment or opinion of others. Let them talk. Let them judge, Let them think your work is less than perfect.
It's OK. The point is that you get it out there - there is always someone that can benefit from your work. If you're keeping it to yourself, nobody will benefit from it! That's for sure.
2. Having a clear goal and purpose for your project helps you move forward.
When I didn't know what I was writing the cookbooks for, when I didn't have a clear purpose, It was easy for me to sometimes not move forward, come up with excuses not to work on it, and take many endless "creative" breaks.
When I decided that I was going to sell my books to support an organization to help dogs on the streets of Sri Lanka, it motivated me more than anything. I woke up every morning excited to do whatever needed to be done next!
So have a clear goal in mind for what you do. Not to make money for your own good, but for greater cause than just yourself. It will make the process much easier and enjoyable.
And If you don't yet have a clear goal or purpose, it's OK! Just keep doing what you're doing. It is worthwhile to think about it, journal about it, but if it still doesn't come, trust that it will and just keep doing your best every day, keep moving forward. So when you know your purpose for what you are working on, then you are more than halfway there!
This leads me to my next point.
3. Everything will unfold at the right time and place.
I used to think that I can make everything happen. I had to be the go-getter. This is what society taught me - I should make my own fortune, hustle, get busy, etc. This is how I was conditioned by society and business school.
However, what my mom, yoga and the life's wisdom taught me is quite the opposite -
Don't force it. Don't be anxious that you can't come to the conclusion yet.
Listen to your heart. If it feels uneasy about your actions or decisions, maybe it is not the right time or maybe it is not the direction your life should be headed towards.
Sometimes you don't know the best thing for yourself. I used to think that I knew everything about myself and what was best for me. But sometimes I don't. Well.. many times I don't. But God or the higher power that created you, knows. This is extremely humbling, to let go of trying to control what is to happen next. And it is also extremely liberating.
I hope that you find this post helpful.
If you're working on a project, I encourage you to keep doing what you're doing with a GOOD heart. Keep questioning your purpose of doing what you're doing.
Then everything will fall into place, better than if you had done it by forcing it to happen!