I subscribe because I love the tone of your writing Alea 🤗 It always makes me feel as if you're right in front of me and we are chatting over a cup of tea in a cozy cafe. The way you write is very heartwarming, I'm not sure how many others also have this same feeling 🤩
Thank you so much, Moon 🥹🙏🏻 I've always wanted my newsletter to be conversational and personal (inspired by Ali Abdaal's style) but when I joined Substack, almost everyone was writing polished articles which made me feel self-conscious 😅 It’s so heartwarming to hear that you appreciate my writing 💗
By the way, Happy Lunar New Year! 🥳🎆 In the Philippines, we greet our Filipino-Chinese friends with 恭喜发财! ✨ Do you commonly use this greeting too? 😯
Thank you, Moon! 💗 There are a lot of Filipino-Chinese here in the Philippines so we also celebrate Chinese New Year with them 🎇
Most Fil-Chi speak Philippine Hokkien and they pronounce 恭喜发财 as 'Kiong Hee Huat Tsai' but for some reason, the majority of Filipinos are more familiar with the Cantonese pronunciation 'Kung Hei Fat Choi' (I have no idea why either) 😆
We also have this Chinese New Year tradition of eating sticky rice cake which we call "tikoy." I tried to Google it and they say it originated from '甜粿' in Hokkien 😲
both Hokkien and Cantonese are commonly spoken in Singapore, and most of us would understand both pronounciations. As for the tikoy, yes we do eat that. One of the most delicious way is frying the slices in a salty egg batter, so the sweetness is balanced out.
You eat tikoy too? 😲 That's so cool! It's really fascinating to discover these cultural similarities 🥰
In our family, we just use plain egg for the batter and fry it; I don't mind the sweetness~ 😆 But it would be interesting to try it next time with salty egg batter too! 😋
I subscribed, as others have written, just to hear from authentic voices. To change my consumption to real stories and insights I am not normally exposed to. So there ya go!
Thank you so much, Nick 🥹🤍 This is the kind of writing I also wish to see more of 🙏🏻 Keep sharing your authentic voice too! The world needs to hear your story 💖
I subscribe to "you" Alea as a person, so it really doesn't matter what you write, its just that you do. I think that the type of person you are, kind, supporting, open, honest, authentic, willing to share your struggles as well as your wins, is actually quite rare and so when you find people like that, it really does feel like you have made friends.
There are a lot of people I have connected with on Substack, you included, who I consider friends, we may never have met but it feels like we have.
So whatever you write, I will read it eagerly, it just so happens that I usually enjoy your posts, so that's a bonus!
Thank you so much Mark 🥺💖 Our friendship is such a huge blessing 🙏🏻 It's because of good friends like you that I feel at peace and safe to just be myself. Thank you for making Substack a great place with your presence ✨
Alea, I was following you, but now I’ve subscribed because of your authenticity and your tenacity in finding a path to live your passion. Keep your motivation high and never doubt your talent.
I honestly think it's all a process - we will never reach the point where we will feel ready or finished, it's just all a steady process forward. and you are doing amazing!
This resonated with me deeply. As someone who just pulled the trigger on posting the first post last night letting go of that perfection and shame associated with imposter syndrome is real. What I loved about this is your values around metrics and writing for a purpose, girl you took the words right out of my mouth and heart. Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable.
Thank you so much, Tiffany 💗 and welcome to Substack! 🥳🙌🏻
I'm so proud of you for finding the courage to take this step! It's not easy at all to put yourself out there and share your vulnerabilities 🥹
This is how I felt too at the start, but I found that Substack is different from other social media platforms. The community here is so warm and welcoming, and it's a safe space to just be yourself 🤍
This really resonates Alea. Your honesty and vulnerability make your newsletter feel like a conversation, not just content. It’s refreshing to see someone balancing purpose with the realities of growth. I love how you focus on inspiration over just numbers—because sometimes, what we need most isn’t another strategy, but the courage to keep going. What has surprised you the most about your journey so far?
Thank you so much, Karen 🥹🙏🏻 I'm so happy to hear that because it is exactly my intention to make my newsletter feel like a conversation with my audience, not a monologue 💗
What surprised me the most in my journey is how I've been able to reach an audience even though I'm a complete beginner and my writing is far from perfect 🥹 My writing style doesn't always align with 'expert advice' and I know I still have a lot to improve, that's why I'm so grateful to everyone who reads and supports my humble work 🥹🙏🏻
How about you, Karen? What has surprised you the most in your journey? 😊
Alea, I have found that you do not need the expert certificates! If you are real and raw — people want that! SO, keep going doing you! Your personality is perfect! That is what I have learned too!
Hi Alea. You've articulated some of my own thoughts. I agree, it is challenging to have to decide on the value you wish to bring forth to people, and it tires me to see this advice going around. I am still gathering my own ideas regarding this topic, and for now I share from my own embodied and learnt experiences, trusting that I don't have to state the value I am bringing - people will connect to it themselves. I feel seen when I come across people who ponder on similar things as I do, so glad to connect :)
Thank you so much, Alexandra 🥹💗 Your words deeply resonated with me and it feels as if a heavy weight on my shoulders has been lifted 🙏🏻
Value is psychological and it's so hard to explain because it depends on the individual's perception.
Rather than trying to define it all by myself, I can just ask and have a dialogue with my audience 💗 There's so much to learn from their perspective and insights as well!
I subscribed because I hear my own anxieties, inspiration, and motivation in your writing! It's wonderful being on a similar journey alongside someone else.
Thank you so much, Sheridan 🥹💗 It feels really comforting to know that someone can relate to these thoughts and feelings of mine. Thank you for making me feel less alone in this journey 😊🙏🏻
I can relate to everything written here. I know it's hard to not fall into the comparison trap, but just keep in mind that that will only hold you back! Rather compare yourself to your past self. And as you said: "most of the time, we already know what we need to do—the difficult part is finding the courage to actually do it".
Thank you Nina 🙏🏻💗 I wouldn't necessarily say it's due to comparison with others 🤔 It's more of a struggle to define and articulate what value I'm providing especially when it's not exactly a tangible or measurable outcome 😅 Everybody says you have to be clear about your positioning and let people know why people should subscribe, but it's a lot easier said than done, isn't it? askdjl 🫠
I agree—quality beats quantity. A lot of people make the mistake of chasing the numbers, only to realize later that they built an audience who doesn’t really care about their work 🥲
exactly and who wants that? Maybe some people but not me. I've always said from the very beginning that people that believe in our WHY, they will be our true fans
and as our true fans, they will support us out of their pockets 😉
I subscribed because you embody the courage I would have like to have exuded when I was your age (that line makes me sound so old, I know 🙈😊)
You are following your heart instead of the herd and the world would be a kinder, softer place if we all chose to do that early on instead of succumbing to the pressures of "bigger, better, faster, higher" as we are conditioned to do by society and especially by our educational institutions, which makes us unhappy, unfulfilled, competetive... That energy, in turn, is what most of humanity is putting out, hence why the world is the way it is.
I admire your drive and passion, which ignites my motivation to follow my path now as well (better late than never)...
You also have a very radiant energy that shines through your words (and now your beautiful profile pic 😉). I truly believe the energy we sebd out is what allows us to attract accordingly, so let it be said, you will not have a problem growing your audience, even without the so-called "growth hacks" ☺️
Aaaa Stephanie, this means so much 🥹 Thank you for your kind and beautiful words 🙏🏻 What touched me the most is when you said my drive and passion ignite your motivation to follow your own path 🥹💖
That is what I hope to achieve as a creator so I'm beyond grateful ✨ Keep following your dreams too, Stephanie! I'm here to support you in your journey 🥰💖
That's why I subscribe to you, you're so open and authentic. Your writing reflects you genuinely love writing and genuinely care for your readers. The comnon advice is write for others but you're great at illustrating your own story and iin between you make us feel it is really about us.
Aww thank you so much, Mayank! This is so touching 🥹🙏🏻
You know, I always wonder how to balance writing authentically based on my personal experience vs. writing to provide value to others 😅
Writing about yourself and your struggles without giving straightforward advice seems so 'self-centered' but weirdly, it actually connects with your readers and they see themselves in your story 🥹
I personally subscribed to your newsletter because of emphasis you place on authenticity. I think that balance of maintaining the purpose of writing alongside growing an audience is a challenging one.
Just like you, I also turned off notifications for those that have unsubscribed. Those notifications of subscriptions always give a little boost of motivation, but also are a reminder of people being on the journey with you.
Thank you for sharing, Malick 🤍 Even though my rational mind knows that people unsubscribe for many reasons and it's not necessarily a reflection of the value of my work, it's hard not to feel bad and overthink 😅
The first time I received an unsubscribed notification, I immediately turned it off and never enabled it again. It's a waste of energy to deal with such emotional conflicts—it's much better to focus on the people who did choose to stay. Thank you for being one of them. I appreciate you 🥹🤍
I subscribe because I love the tone of your writing Alea 🤗 It always makes me feel as if you're right in front of me and we are chatting over a cup of tea in a cozy cafe. The way you write is very heartwarming, I'm not sure how many others also have this same feeling 🤩
Thank you so much, Moon 🥹🙏🏻 I've always wanted my newsletter to be conversational and personal (inspired by Ali Abdaal's style) but when I joined Substack, almost everyone was writing polished articles which made me feel self-conscious 😅 It’s so heartwarming to hear that you appreciate my writing 💗
By the way, Happy Lunar New Year! 🥳🎆 In the Philippines, we greet our Filipino-Chinese friends with 恭喜发财! ✨ Do you commonly use this greeting too? 😯
You have your own distinct style Alea, and I've not anyone else like you 😉There's no need for comparison or feel self-conscious.
Yes that's the right expression! Your Chinese is improving by leaps and bounds 🤗
Thank you, Moon! 💗 There are a lot of Filipino-Chinese here in the Philippines so we also celebrate Chinese New Year with them 🎇
Most Fil-Chi speak Philippine Hokkien and they pronounce 恭喜发财 as 'Kiong Hee Huat Tsai' but for some reason, the majority of Filipinos are more familiar with the Cantonese pronunciation 'Kung Hei Fat Choi' (I have no idea why either) 😆
We also have this Chinese New Year tradition of eating sticky rice cake which we call "tikoy." I tried to Google it and they say it originated from '甜粿' in Hokkien 😲
both Hokkien and Cantonese are commonly spoken in Singapore, and most of us would understand both pronounciations. As for the tikoy, yes we do eat that. One of the most delicious way is frying the slices in a salty egg batter, so the sweetness is balanced out.
You eat tikoy too? 😲 That's so cool! It's really fascinating to discover these cultural similarities 🥰
In our family, we just use plain egg for the batter and fry it; I don't mind the sweetness~ 😆 But it would be interesting to try it next time with salty egg batter too! 😋
I subscribed, as others have written, just to hear from authentic voices. To change my consumption to real stories and insights I am not normally exposed to. So there ya go!
Thank you so much, Nick 🥹🤍 This is the kind of writing I also wish to see more of 🙏🏻 Keep sharing your authentic voice too! The world needs to hear your story 💖
You wrote about finding inspiration and you inspired me. Right now I'm the one who is a few steps back from you. We're not alone <3
Your comment just made my day 🥺🤍 Thank you so much for the kind words, Margareth! I'm wishing you all the best 🙏🏻💖
I subscribe to "you" Alea as a person, so it really doesn't matter what you write, its just that you do. I think that the type of person you are, kind, supporting, open, honest, authentic, willing to share your struggles as well as your wins, is actually quite rare and so when you find people like that, it really does feel like you have made friends.
There are a lot of people I have connected with on Substack, you included, who I consider friends, we may never have met but it feels like we have.
So whatever you write, I will read it eagerly, it just so happens that I usually enjoy your posts, so that's a bonus!
Thank you for the link at the end too 😊
Thank you so much Mark 🥺💖 Our friendship is such a huge blessing 🙏🏻 It's because of good friends like you that I feel at peace and safe to just be myself. Thank you for making Substack a great place with your presence ✨
And that's why it works, because you can be yourself 😊
Alea, I was following you, but now I’ve subscribed because of your authenticity and your tenacity in finding a path to live your passion. Keep your motivation high and never doubt your talent.
This is so sweet~ 🥹 Thank you very much, Emanuela! 💖 I'm cheering you on in your journey too ✨
You made me feel understood. Thank you.🙂❤️
Aww thank you so much for this, Nevena! 🥹 Your comment just made my day! I feel understood too 💖
I honestly think it's all a process - we will never reach the point where we will feel ready or finished, it's just all a steady process forward. and you are doing amazing!
Thank you so much for the uplifting words, Claudia! You’re an inspiration 🥹💗
This resonated with me deeply. As someone who just pulled the trigger on posting the first post last night letting go of that perfection and shame associated with imposter syndrome is real. What I loved about this is your values around metrics and writing for a purpose, girl you took the words right out of my mouth and heart. Thank you for sharing and being vulnerable.
Thank you so much, Tiffany 💗 and welcome to Substack! 🥳🙌🏻
I'm so proud of you for finding the courage to take this step! It's not easy at all to put yourself out there and share your vulnerabilities 🥹
This is how I felt too at the start, but I found that Substack is different from other social media platforms. The community here is so warm and welcoming, and it's a safe space to just be yourself 🤍
I wish you all the best in your journey 🙏🏻💗
This really resonates Alea. Your honesty and vulnerability make your newsletter feel like a conversation, not just content. It’s refreshing to see someone balancing purpose with the realities of growth. I love how you focus on inspiration over just numbers—because sometimes, what we need most isn’t another strategy, but the courage to keep going. What has surprised you the most about your journey so far?
Thank you so much, Karen 🥹🙏🏻 I'm so happy to hear that because it is exactly my intention to make my newsletter feel like a conversation with my audience, not a monologue 💗
What surprised me the most in my journey is how I've been able to reach an audience even though I'm a complete beginner and my writing is far from perfect 🥹 My writing style doesn't always align with 'expert advice' and I know I still have a lot to improve, that's why I'm so grateful to everyone who reads and supports my humble work 🥹🙏🏻
How about you, Karen? What has surprised you the most in your journey? 😊
Alea, I have found that you do not need the expert certificates! If you are real and raw — people want that! SO, keep going doing you! Your personality is perfect! That is what I have learned too!
Thank you Karen 🥹 This means so much! I appreciate you 🤍
Hi Alea. You've articulated some of my own thoughts. I agree, it is challenging to have to decide on the value you wish to bring forth to people, and it tires me to see this advice going around. I am still gathering my own ideas regarding this topic, and for now I share from my own embodied and learnt experiences, trusting that I don't have to state the value I am bringing - people will connect to it themselves. I feel seen when I come across people who ponder on similar things as I do, so glad to connect :)
Thank you so much, Alexandra 🥹💗 Your words deeply resonated with me and it feels as if a heavy weight on my shoulders has been lifted 🙏🏻
Value is psychological and it's so hard to explain because it depends on the individual's perception.
Rather than trying to define it all by myself, I can just ask and have a dialogue with my audience 💗 There's so much to learn from their perspective and insights as well!
I subscribed because I hear my own anxieties, inspiration, and motivation in your writing! It's wonderful being on a similar journey alongside someone else.
Thank you so much, Sheridan 🥹💗 It feels really comforting to know that someone can relate to these thoughts and feelings of mine. Thank you for making me feel less alone in this journey 😊🙏🏻
I feel the exact same about your writing :)
I can relate to everything written here. I know it's hard to not fall into the comparison trap, but just keep in mind that that will only hold you back! Rather compare yourself to your past self. And as you said: "most of the time, we already know what we need to do—the difficult part is finding the courage to actually do it".
Thank you Nina 🙏🏻💗 I wouldn't necessarily say it's due to comparison with others 🤔 It's more of a struggle to define and articulate what value I'm providing especially when it's not exactly a tangible or measurable outcome 😅 Everybody says you have to be clear about your positioning and let people know why people should subscribe, but it's a lot easier said than done, isn't it? askdjl 🫠
Oh yess...
Totally agree with what you’re saying. I went through this yesterday and it’s not the first time.
I don’t want shallow anything- it’s hard to swim in shallow water.
I’ve lived long enough to know what I want and what I don’t want and shallow fake and dishonest is not it .
I always say I’d rather have 500 true fans, than a number of 10,000 subscribers.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Kathleen 💗
I agree—quality beats quantity. A lot of people make the mistake of chasing the numbers, only to realize later that they built an audience who doesn’t really care about their work 🥲
exactly and who wants that? Maybe some people but not me. I've always said from the very beginning that people that believe in our WHY, they will be our true fans
and as our true fans, they will support us out of their pockets 😉
I subscribed because you embody the courage I would have like to have exuded when I was your age (that line makes me sound so old, I know 🙈😊)
You are following your heart instead of the herd and the world would be a kinder, softer place if we all chose to do that early on instead of succumbing to the pressures of "bigger, better, faster, higher" as we are conditioned to do by society and especially by our educational institutions, which makes us unhappy, unfulfilled, competetive... That energy, in turn, is what most of humanity is putting out, hence why the world is the way it is.
I admire your drive and passion, which ignites my motivation to follow my path now as well (better late than never)...
You also have a very radiant energy that shines through your words (and now your beautiful profile pic 😉). I truly believe the energy we sebd out is what allows us to attract accordingly, so let it be said, you will not have a problem growing your audience, even without the so-called "growth hacks" ☺️
Aaaa Stephanie, this means so much 🥹 Thank you for your kind and beautiful words 🙏🏻 What touched me the most is when you said my drive and passion ignite your motivation to follow your own path 🥹💖
That is what I hope to achieve as a creator so I'm beyond grateful ✨ Keep following your dreams too, Stephanie! I'm here to support you in your journey 🥰💖
🫶
That's why I subscribe to you, you're so open and authentic. Your writing reflects you genuinely love writing and genuinely care for your readers. The comnon advice is write for others but you're great at illustrating your own story and iin between you make us feel it is really about us.
Aww thank you so much, Mayank! This is so touching 🥹🙏🏻
You know, I always wonder how to balance writing authentically based on my personal experience vs. writing to provide value to others 😅
Writing about yourself and your struggles without giving straightforward advice seems so 'self-centered' but weirdly, it actually connects with your readers and they see themselves in your story 🥹
Your comment made my day~ Thank you ✨
I personally subscribed to your newsletter because of emphasis you place on authenticity. I think that balance of maintaining the purpose of writing alongside growing an audience is a challenging one.
Just like you, I also turned off notifications for those that have unsubscribed. Those notifications of subscriptions always give a little boost of motivation, but also are a reminder of people being on the journey with you.
Thank you for sharing, Malick 🤍 Even though my rational mind knows that people unsubscribe for many reasons and it's not necessarily a reflection of the value of my work, it's hard not to feel bad and overthink 😅
The first time I received an unsubscribed notification, I immediately turned it off and never enabled it again. It's a waste of energy to deal with such emotional conflicts—it's much better to focus on the people who did choose to stay. Thank you for being one of them. I appreciate you 🥹🤍