34 Comments
User's avatar
Jill Jepson, Ph.D.'s avatar

Kudos to you! Do what feels right. Life is too short to worry about algorithms.

Maya Laurent's avatar

It's truly so hard to not give into all the pressures that each place seems to develop. Your words are what we all need to remember.

Kate Happle's avatar

It’s exactly this that has put me off other platforms in the past. Finding your own path through is so hard!

Anil Talwar's avatar

Kate,it takes courage to admit when things get heavy and messy. It’s okay to step back and let go of the pressure, especially when something you love starts feeling like a burden. Take all the time you need to breathe and write when it feels right again. We’re here, and we appreciate you just as you are.

Kate Happle's avatar

Thank you 🙏. So much kindness, really appreciate your words.

Lewis Holmes's avatar

"I can’t lie, I honestly don’t know what the future holds for my little Substack, but I do know that writing fuck it a bunch of times has made me feel better than I’ve felt in days!"

Every first draft I write is the 'fuck it' draft. Getting that shit out is cathartic, it's good for the soul.

Kate Happle's avatar

Yes 🙌. Love that

Julie Neches's avatar

All for just doing it your way!

Kurpitsa-ananas's avatar

Yup, this can't become an energy drain. I have kids and work, any extra free work is like pissing gold and flushing it 😖 I strongly feel it is like that

edit. the analogy here is meant to be a joke (because it is very bad)

Kate Happle's avatar

It’s such a hard balance!

The Therapist Who Came Undone's avatar

Fuck it! And thank you for this gift.

Kate Happle's avatar

Fuck it indeed! And thank you 🙏

The Therapist Who Came Undone's avatar

This is embarrassing to admit, but next week I am putting out an entire essay on the goddamn sub stack algorithm, and how it is making me crazy. I wrote it and then I thought I can't believe this is what I am writing about. So glad to know I'm not alone.

Kate Happle's avatar

Ha! We’re all interested because we’re all impacted by it! And many of us aren’t so sure whether we want to dance to its tune!

Caitlin McColl 🇨🇦's avatar

I can totally relate to this i need to give less f*cks and expend less energy on all this stuff because it can easily/quickly drain my soul! Thanks for sharing your experience. We don't need to make things more complicated...we need less pressure on ourselves

Kate Happle's avatar

Sorry hit send to soon! Sums it up perfectly! Thank you for your comment. Means a lot to know I’m not out here alone!

Caitlin McColl 🇨🇦's avatar

*definitely * not alone!

Woman Over Forty's avatar

👏👏👏I think we should all give less f*s and listen to our bodies more

Kate Happle's avatar

Yes! This is so true. My body often catches on way before my brain! Thank you

Jillian Bybee, MD's avatar

Well said. Not wanting to put more pressure on myself is one of the reasons I have not turned on paid. It can be really challenging. Here’s hoping you find your way out of the vortex and into something that feels better for you.

Kate Happle's avatar

Thank you. It’s amazing how easy it is to slide into the pressure without realising it. Time to hold up a mirror. But it’s ok, I’m English I can drink tea, keep calm and carry on… 😅

Communications Coach Claire's avatar

A standing ovation from the seated audience over here. Well written and real. Thank you 🙏

Kate Happle's avatar

Thank you. I thought people might just think I’m being an ungrateful cow. We have to do it our own way. No matter how hard that is. Thank you again🙏

Jessie Renee's avatar

🔥

Mahmoud Owies's avatar

Finally!!!

FINALLY

Ellen Scherr's avatar

THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS! I've only been on Substack for 2.5 months, and I am exhausted. Keeping up with everything that "should be done" is making me miserable. I need to fuck the pressure and get my life back. Thanks for the motivation.

Kate Happle's avatar

It means so much if this connects to even one person. It’s amazing how quickly our attempts to make it great start to be the exact things that take away the magic. Be you and do it your way. We’ll do it together x

Linzi Cora's avatar

I thought I was the only one ☺️ I feel you