Staying happy with a project?

So about five hours ago I decided I wanted to start a line of sugar/salt bath scrubs and open up an Etsy shop. I planned some names for my products, descriptions, bought sugar, coconut oil and then bought five different fragrance oils for a total of about thirty bucks. I still have labels to make, jars to buy...I was so very pumped up.

Now I'm sitting here thinking "um...do I even want to do this?" I guess I kind of have to, I just spent a bunch of money and psyched myself up. I just wish I could stay happy with an idea or project. I always do this, I get myself excited and really think it'll be something I can stick with then suddenly I'm empty again with no passion. Does anyone else get this way? How do you stay on task with projects even when the spark goes away? I know this is something I want to do, something I'll have fun with and hopefully make some extra money, but right now I've become overwhelmed with feelings of emptiness and doubt. Like, why am I even bothering? I'll probably fail. There's enough of this stuff on etsy. No one will care if you word things clever or have interesting scents.

any advice? I kind of wanted to put a mental health spin on my products. Sort of gear it towards to overly stressed and quirky types. I have a lot of followers on my blog so I thought that would be a good platform. I DON'T KNOW.
Someone tell me how you keep motivation when all you are is a hollow shell with no real interests?

I guess the only thing I can say is I've been going through this for years. I'm very creative and I have many hobbies that I've tried and ditched. I've jumped from project to project too. I'm also a pretty good writer and did freelance for awhile then stopped. Then I started doing quilting a few years ago. I bought lots of expensive books, an expensive sewing machine, fabric and supplies and did a few pieces. I even entered a couple of shows. Then, a few months ago, I put away all my sewing stuff and decided to start oil painting again. The blank canvas has been sitting there for weeks. I'm a pretty good painter and actually sold a couple of pieces, but I too have the doubt and the emptiness. I've wasted so much money on workshops and courses trying to find out where I fit. In university I changed my major dozens of times. I settled on a degree in psych, now I wish I did it in English. It goes on and on.

Aside from the painful emotional crap, this is one of the most frustrating things about my BPD. The emptiness is overwhelming as is the lack of identity. I don't think there's any amount of DBT that can fix this.

I've have been getting glimpses of true self in therapy because my T likes to end sessions talking about things I like to talk about. If you have a T maybe you could do this, too. I think it works for me because I know he's not going to judge me or tell me I'm wrong to like what I like or think what I think like my parents did.

Sorry I don't have much advice, but at least you now know you're not alone.

Write down your true goals of having this business.

Is it income? Is it proving that you can handle the challenge? Is it proving the nay-sayers wrong? Is it being your own boss.....

And reference these goals when the daily-grind makes you want to quit.

side note..... you are clearly a very bright gal. I think you can be successful at this and I wish you all the best.

kudos to you for starting a business, yaay for the entrepreneurial spirit
unfortunately for us borderlines we do go through periods of high efficiency and get a lot done, then other times we are almost helpless and can't do anything. fortunately for me i own a real estate business so i'm ok with these periods, i could never be an employee ( i wouldn't last a month).hee hee

you will have these periods of being overwhelmed i go through it too,
but don't worry the urge to do something will come back ( it always does)
the key to staying on task is to tell yourself, ok today is not the day to deal with this i'm gonna get to it but today i'm not ready. i do this alot
then when get my boost i catch up

being in business for yourself is very good for us because the mood swings and other issues make it almost impossible to work for someone. if you have a good idea, it will sell. if you don't already know how to you will need to market your product as well & a blog and website is an excellent idea. some type of knowledge in selling the product is also essential, if you need any help or tips feel free to PM me anytime, i have a lot of experience in all those areas good luck and hope this helps!!

Thank you so much ! I can definitely relate to so much if what you said. I'll take you up on the offer for sure

ok great! looking forward to working with you!

Oh WOW! that sounds so exciting!

I researched into that sort of thing last year, and I got really pumped, told a few ppl that s what I wanted to do, then poof! Gone, excitement gone. drive gone, inspiration gone.

Why? I think because I fear failure. I am even like that with my paintings. Ppl often say they want to buy one, but I never pursue it. I paint for my own pleasure and even then I have the canvas sit there blank for weeks because I only will paint when I know I am not going to screw it up. Then all of a sudden the mood strikes me and I go at with wild abandon. Then I buy more canvas's the next day with the intent to pull off another masterpiece... but alas those canvas's are going to have to wait too... for god knows how long.

I am currently working on a novel. I have always wanted to write, probably since I was shot up the birth canal. but I keep feeling discouraged about actually getting published and that doesn't stop me writing altogether, it just stops me from putting to much effort into a manuscript, when I can just write for pleasure, anyhoo, I digress..

But when I try work on my novel, I am overcome with emptiness. I almost feel miserable. None of my characters want to speak to eachother and one in particular keeps leaving the scene. I am going to have to get them drunk.

I have always felt empty and worthless whenever I have attempted a novel. Who is going to want to read this? What is this genre?? I know too little of too many things to write about something in particular.

Sure, I can write blogs (which I need to post again BTW) and I have dozens of journals and poems over the years.. but my novels? No can do.. but the desire has NEVER left me, despite my indolence, excuses and harsh self critiques.

Do it I say.. I honestly think if the idea is persistent regardless of how many times you give up.. Then you must do it. The dream aint going anywhere, its with you. That's how I feel about my writing.

But yes, I really understand the emptiness you describe in regards to the spark and passion disappearing. Its shite and I switch interests all the time. I was even looking into nursing degrees this morning and I have NEVER considered nursing. Yesterday I was just telling mum that I want to finish my Social Science degree and go teach English in Cambodia or Thailand. At the same time I was thinking screw this, Im quitting study so I can get a full time job and earn money to buy a plane ticket and travel the world!!!

Who the EFF knows. I think its great that you are creative and thinking up these things in the first place. I am really interested in the names you have created for the elusive products..