pursue your dreams: casey of we took the road less traveled

Pursue Your Dreams is a weekly mini-series brought to you by a handful of talented handmade artists, bloggers, small business owners, and ladies who are chasing hard after their dreams. The series focuses on 3 insights they've learned about staying inspired, dealing with negativity, business tips, blogging, setting goals, marketing yourself, and more!

Hi everyone! I'm Casey, the brains behind We Took the Road Less Traveled blog. While I don't own my own business or tout an amazing career in the field I hold my degree in, I have cultivated a life of adventure I never thought possible and a fun blog space to share it all with the world. Since moving to Germany with my Air Force husband, I've learned so much about pursuing dreams and blooming where you're planted, something us military wives have learned to do often and quite quickly from time to time. Blogging, and the opportunities it's afforded me over the last 3 years abroad, has helped keep me busy and engaged while far from home. It's also opened up doors to the travel world that I never knew existed. Even though the following insights on dream chasing are geared more towards the blogger, they can be applied to business owners and anyone on the precipice of taking a leap of faith. And hey, if you're feeling like an adventure, come visit me over on the blog…always happy to see new faces!

1 // Don't fall prey to comparison
As cliché as the phrase has become, comparison is truly a joy killer. And no there is no greater prey for comparison than the blogger. We spend hours of our days sharing our existence on the internet…cultivating beautiful photos, link-ups, DIY projects, recipes, and stories to let the world in on just a small smattering of what composes our daily lives. But there are days when everything I publish just doesn't seem to stack up to what others have achieved. "Why aren't my photos as clear as hers?" Why didn't I think of that first?" "I wish I had a beautiful, well-lit home with peonies and perfect children and a witty voice, too!" I am my own worst enemy in blog world, not other bloggers. Instead of focusing on all the things everyone else is doing, I try to focus on all the things I'm good at…and nurture those parts of me to be the best they can be. There's a place in blog world for everyone. No need to try and mimic someone else's voice or style or even how they live their life. Your readers can smell a phony from a mile away. Harness the envy as motivation if you need to, but avoid letting the thought of greener pastures change your voice or the way you run your space. Letting in the negative will only make you resent your dreams instead of giving you the drive to chase them. The grass isn't always greener, my friends.

2 // Network and build a community of like-minded, supportive souls
One of the greatest things I ever did to build my blog and brand (aside from hiring Jenny to design my space!) was to connect and network with fellow bloggers who had similar interests as me. It's one thing to sit behind a computer screen all day and type away, but it's another to reach out to your readers and interact with them on a deeper level. I've found my creative space to be so much more rewarding when I really get to know who my audience is and take time to create meaningful dialogue. Bloggers hold a wealth of knowledge on a variety of different subjects and are the perfect sounding board for bouncing around ideas and gleaning support, especially since they know this blog world and all its idiosyncrasies well. Some of the dearest friends in my life I've made through blogging…not to mention, I've been able to grow and nurture my space with their support and willingness to share my content and their connections. There is a lot to be said for building relationships within the blogging community. Don't be afraid to get out there, produce meaningful interactions through comments, emails, and collaboration, and make connections that not only benefit your blog or business, but your heart as well!

3 // Don't apologize for stepping back and living life
The whole point of having a blog is to write about the life you're living, right? Well, what happens when life gets too busy and you begin to neglect writing about it? The answer…NOTHING! Nothing happens if you don't get to write or snap photos or have the energy to put towards thinking up the next big project you'll do. Sure you may feel a bit guilty for not creating something for your readers, but the internet won't die and your readers won't lynch you if you need some time away. Write when you do have something to say. Your content is likely to be better if you don't force it, anyway. This is one nugget of wisdom I still struggle with from time to time, but I feel so much more creative and into writing when I don't put so much pressure on myself. Besides, taking care of you and the important parts of your life behind the keyboard should be your greatest priority. Life has many ebbs and flows--one week you may be filled to the brim with words and ideas while a month later, your struggling to find time to even wash your hair. There's no need to apologize for having to take a beat and back away from blogging…or anything, for that matter. There's no blogging "rule book", so feel free to march to the beat of your own drum, blog when you feel it, and never say sorry for going out and living your own life. We'll all be here when you get back. :)

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us, Casey! Be sure to visit her blog if you haven't already and join us next week for more inspirational insights. :)