{"id":677,"date":"2024-02-21T22:37:20","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T22:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/?p=677"},"modified":"2024-02-22T01:33:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T01:33:50","slug":"what-matters-most-learning-to-prioritize-joy-and-fulfillment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/what-matters-most-learning-to-prioritize-joy-and-fulfillment\/","title":{"rendered":"What Matters Most? Learning to Prioritize Joy and Fulfillment"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"677\" class=\"elementor elementor-677\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b938dec e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"4b938dec\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04feed1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04feed1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 18-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><em>Disclaimer: this article includes affiliate links<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37791ba elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"37791ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 18-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-divider{--divider-border-style:none;--divider-border-width:1px;--divider-color:#0c0d0e;--divider-icon-size:20px;--divider-element-spacing:10px;--divider-pattern-height:24px;--divider-pattern-size:20px;--divider-pattern-url:none;--divider-pattern-repeat:repeat-x}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider{display:flex}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{font-size:15px;line-height:1;max-width:95%}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__element{margin:0 var(--divider-element-spacing);flex-shrink:0}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-icon{font-size:var(--divider-icon-size)}.elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider-separator{display:flex;margin:0;direction:ltr}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator{align-items:center}.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text .elementor-divider-separator:before{display:block;content:\"\";border-block-end:0;flex-grow:1;border-block-start:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-left .elementor-divider__element{margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-right .elementor-divider__element{margin-right:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:first-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider-separator:before{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-start .elementor-divider__element{margin-inline-start:0}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider .elementor-divider-separator>.elementor-divider__svg:last-of-type{flex-grow:0;flex-shrink:100}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider-separator:after{content:none}.elementor-widget-divider--element-align-end .elementor-divider__element{margin-inline-end:0}.elementor-widget-divider:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_text):not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon) .elementor-divider-separator{border-block-start:var(--divider-border-width) var(--divider-border-style) var(--divider-color)}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern{--divider-border-style:none}.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern.elementor-widget-divider--view-line .elementor-divider-separator,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:after,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not(.elementor-widget-divider--view-line) .elementor-divider-separator:before,.elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern:not([class*=elementor-widget-divider--view]) .elementor-divider-separator{width:100%;min-height:var(--divider-pattern-height);-webkit-mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;mask-size:var(--divider-pattern-size) 100%;-webkit-mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);mask-repeat:var(--divider-pattern-repeat);background-color:var(--divider-color);-webkit-mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url);mask-image:var(--divider-pattern-url)}.elementor-widget-divider--no-spacing{--divider-pattern-size:auto}.elementor-widget-divider--bg-round{--divider-pattern-repeat:round}.rtl .elementor-widget-divider .elementor-divider__text{direction:rtl}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-divider,.e-con>.elementor-widget-divider{width:var(--container-widget-width,100%);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2275581c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2275581c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m feeling a bit worn out today.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:separator --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I have been working on the website a lot this week. And not on the fun stuff. I\u2019ve been doing a lot of web design work, which actually isn\u2019t too bad. I have been designing websites for, I don\u2019t know, 15 years. I mean, not consistently, and not always at a professional level. But I have plenty of experience with it and I know a fair bit.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>And I enjoy some aspects of it. Namely the designing portion I enjoy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>But there are other parts that I don\u2019t love.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Like the coding parts. Or the really technical parts.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I am certainly not an expert coder. Far from it. I do know a bit of the basics and I can often figure out how to get something to work through the code as long as I get some help, either from a tutorial, a forum, or these days ChatGPT. Honestly, AI is incredibly helpful as a coding coach and helper.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>But still, I don\u2019t love that part.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Especially when I run into something that I just can\u2019t really figure out, even with help, and that is extremely mentally taxing.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what I have been dealing with this week.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Let me describe the scenario.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I signed up with this new Newsletter software called Beehiiv, which I am really liking. It comes highly recommended, and I think I would probably recommend it. In fact, if you want to try it out you can use&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.beehiiv.com\/?via=josh-putnam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">my referral link<\/a>&nbsp;and I will get a little commission. No pressure whatsoever. Just in case.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Anyway, I really like them. They handle a lot of the processes of list-building and segmentation and Newsletter writing and sending, including monetization. They do a lot of things really well. In fact, they are so well-liked that they have grown really fast. So fast that there is one aspect of the workflow that I don\u2019t think has quite caught up to where I\u2019d like it to be.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>That aspect is forms.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Now, as I say this I think they will improve this feature. It will just take some time. And honestly, the functionality is fine. The forms work. You can create forms and embed them into your site without much trouble.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s just that there isn\u2019t as much customizability to the forms as I would like to see. I mean, don\u2019t get me wrong, there is some. In fact, there is more customization available in their forms than I have seen from other companies. I can style these forms pretty well. Colors, fonts. Well, that\u2019s mostly it. But I have been happy with the end result visually.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>For the most part.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>However, it\u2019s just an iframe embed, and it\u2019s hard to style iframes, or contents inside of an iframe.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I suppose my biggest issue visually is the recaptcha.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Now, I <em>love<\/em> that they use Cloudlfare for the recaptcha instead of Google. I am not a fan of Google\u2019s recaptcha. It\u2019s clunky and ugly and doesn\u2019t work very well. It\u2019s not intuitive and it is often difficult to set up.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Cloudflare is awesome! I recommend them for so much! Website optimization, protection, even hosting! I have hosted several static websites on Cloudflare. I just love them.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>So it\u2019s not the fact that Beehiiv uses a recaptcha on the forms, that is important because you don\u2019t want bots spamming you, and it certainly isn\u2019t the fact that they use Cloudflare. It\u2019s that I can\u2019t seem to adjust the spacing between the form field and the recaptcha. The recaptcha sits like 1px below the form field and it just annoys me.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Cloudflare does also offer an invisible recaptcha, which I have used on other sites. I think there is some debate about whether or not that is as effective, but I\u2019m not sure. It would really be nice to be able to choose to use an invisible recaptcha on the Beehiiv forms. Maybe I will see if I can suggest that feature to them.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Anyway, so I decided yesterday that I would just try to figure out a way to use my own forms, built in Elementor, to send data to Beehiiv so that I can just style my own forms as much as I want and even use an invisible recaptcha.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I spent all day yesterday working on this project. I even found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blogmarketingacademy.com\/connect-forms-to-beehiiv-api\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this article<\/a> from a guy who had done just what I was trying to do.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>So, being the coding novice that I am, I turned to ChatGPT to see if it could alter the code specific to my needs. Which it did. Or appeared to do.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I refined everything, including telling it to redirect to the code url on my server, and then to my download page so someone could download the offering. I created the .php file and uploaded it to my server in the proper(?) place.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>This took me hours and was very mentally draining.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>And then, with baited breath and a hopefulness that I would be able to build my own forms and integrate them with Beehiiv to my heart\u2019s content, I tested the form.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>And\u2026<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>It didn\u2019t work.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I was pretty discouraged, frustrated, and exhausted.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>But it was at this point that I asked myself a question I should have asked to begin with: how much does this really matter?<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>And the answer: not that much.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>So I said forget this, the Beehiiv forms are fine and I\u2019ll just live with the recaptcha where it is for now.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I fully expect them to add more options to the form building process in the future. And it really isn\u2019t that bad the way it is. I was just being a little nitpicky.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>But I like a visually appealing website and I want mine to reflect that. So attention to detail is important to me.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>But so is my sanity and my energy.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>So I decided that I would just let it be for now.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The thing is that my blog is really about the content. It\u2019s really about allowing me to write and express my thoughts and feelings and to connect with people like you. And when I get so focused on something that isn\u2019t so fulfilling to me and it starts to drain my energy, then I don\u2019t have anything left to do the stuff that <em>is<\/em> fulfilling and that <em>does <\/em>bring me joy. And that hopefully is adding value to other people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>So what is the point of all of this? I guess I am just trying to define that now.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The point is that you should, we should, keep things in proper priority. We probably can\u2019t, nor even should, avoid all of the things that add stress into our lives all of the time. But we probably <em>can<\/em> reduce those things quite a bit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Did I need to spend all day exhausting myself over a few pixels on my website? No, of course not. The form functioned just fine. And it really doesn\u2019t look bad. I don\u2019t think it detracts from the site very much.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Perhaps I could have just let it be, and shifted my focus to what really matters to me on this blog: the writing.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Maybe this is a Don\u2019t-Sweat-the-Small-Stuff post. That wasn\u2019t my intention when I started writing today. But that\u2019s where I find myself now. Maybe I need to learn to prioritize a little better, to let the small stuff go, and focus on what matters most to me.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not that the form visual doesn\u2019t matter at all, and I think that at some point I would like to address it. But as it started taking too much energy and focus from me and exhausting me mentally and emotionally, perhaps I should have recognized that a little sooner, let go of the project, and shifted to something else that would have been more energizing.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I know I have a tendency to do that. To get hyper focused on stuff and to stress about it until it\u2019s done. I don\u2019t rest and relax enough. I mean, I escape a lot. Like I watch youtube or I play games on my phone or I watch a Korean drama.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>But that doesn\u2019t mean I am relaxing.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>There is a difference between escaping and relaxing.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I do need to learn to truly let go and relax. Release the stress. And refocus on things that matter more to me instead of letting the stress drive me.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>So here\u2019s to recalibrating. Here\u2019s to releasing, relaxing, and refocusing on the things that bring more joy and fulfillment into our lives.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I will try to do better at that. And I invite you to examine your patterns, too.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>And maybe we can grow together.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disclaimer: this article includes affiliate links I\u2019m feeling a bit worn out today. I have been working on the website a lot this week. And not on the fun stuff. I\u2019ve been doing a lot of web design work, which actually isn\u2019t too bad. I have been designing websites for, I don\u2019t know, 15 years. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":678,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/677"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=677"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/677\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":693,"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/677\/revisions\/693"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=677"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=677"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arealhumanbeing.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=677"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}