I missed my daily writing habit yesterday, and that's okay.

These are the three things I've learned so far from showing up (and failing).

1. Showing Up Matters

Showing up every day to do what you said you would do is hard. Especially on the days, you have a million other things going on, how could something silly like writing be important? 

But, showing up and doing it helps get the ideas out of your head and onto the page. It doesn't have to be the next viral hit every time, but just the act of putting something out into the world is cathartic. 

2. Set Yourself Up for Success

Schedule time on your calendar to write. I made the mistake of not doing this for the first few days, making it way easier to procrastinate and barter with myself that I'd do it later. 

Giving yourself your "sacred hours," as Dickie Bush would say, is imperative to setting yourself up for success and following through on the writing ritual.

3. Don't Beat Yourself Up

I missed yesterday. It was a long day, with too many competing priorities. I sat down to write at 9 pm and couldn't will myself to put anything of value onto the page. 

That's okay, though. I can't let one failure keep me from showing up today. When things don't go exactly to plan, don't throw it all away. Pick yourself up and get back on the train again. 

That's why I'm here today. Showing up because it matters.