The app for independent voices
Guarding Your Heart as a Christian Substack Writer: (a short guide from a guy who’s learning the hard way)
Turn. Off. Notifications. Seriously. The dopamine isn’t worth it. 😆 I used to get a little hit of excitement every time someone liked a post… but it started to feel like I was writing for that little ping. My ADHD was going wild. That’s a fast track to anxiety and burnout. Your heart doesn’t need constant performance reviews from the algorithm!
Don’t post out of pressure. You don’t owe anyone consistency if it costs your soul. You’re not running a brand. You’re sharing bread with other beggars just like you! Write when you have something worth saying… something that could help someone else make it through their week.
Love the readers you already have! ❤️Everyone’s chasing growth, but the reality is it’s extremely rare to be able to monetize this sort of thing enough to replace your day job. What if your “success” isn’t in gaining followers but in serving them? You’ve got real people reading your stuff, even if they’re quiet. Water those roots. Don’t chase the crowd—cultivate your corner.
Know when to log off. It’s okay to disappear for a while. Jesus literally ghosted crowds to pray and rest. You can too. Silence is sacred. Your audience will survive. 😊 I personally learn much more from spiritually and emotionally healthy leaders than leaders who I can tell are desperate to stay relevant.
Don’t use writing to prove you matter. I know the feeling: “If this post blows up, maybe I’m not wasting my life.” That’s not where identity comes from. You’re already loved. You don’t have to earn it. Write from that truth, not for it!
Let God be your editor. Before hitting “publish,” pause. Ask Him, “Is this helpful? Honest? Humble?” Sometimes the post you’re most hyped on isn’t the one people need. And sometimes the quiet, raw ones are the most healing.
Laugh at yourself often. You’re going to say things weird. You’re going to overshare. You will deal with imposter syndrome. It’s okay. You’re human. Don’t take yourself so seriously that you can’t enjoy the process!
Writing for others is sacred.
But your heart is even more sacred.
Guard it well!