5 Lessons from 1 Month of Blogging

1. I've discovered and rediscovered myself - When you're about to push the 'Publish' button, there's a number of thoughts going through your head. Some may be, simply, that you hope people like your post. I've found there are some articles in which I've discovered profound truths that are a part of who I am. Whether I'm thinking, writing, or posting, I am judging what I've written, and asked myself questions about what I believe, and if I act in accordance with my belief.
   
   I've gone back to things I've written, notes from conferences, school, or church, and, at times, am blown away. Sometimes my 21 year-old self understood things better than I do now, but many of these things have become profound proof that I've grown as a person. Some things I've seen integrated into my life, others that have fallen by the wayside, but by writing articles and thoughts, I am rediscovering all of these things and have a real opportunity to see the progress that I've made in my life and push that progression to higher heights.
   
   
2. The internet can and will teach you anything
   
   I am astounded by how much information is out there that people are willing to share. In the past few weeks, I've received loads of information for FREE! I've listen to hours worth of podcasts, read tons of blog articles, attended a number of webinars, all just on the topic of blogging. The excuse 'I don't know how' is becoming more and more of a fallacy, or an admission of laziness. Laziness may be the most frequent lesson learned on the internet. I'm looking at myself here too, but we waste so much time on funny YouTube videos, crushing candy, and binge watching Parks and Recreation. Using half the time we use for these entertaining but time draining activities could transform us into almost anything that we could think of!
   
   
3. People are kind
   
   Many of you have reached out and given me kind words about my thoughts and writing. Sincerely, I thank you. I ponder on what holds the most importance in my life, and wonder if sharing my experiences would provide anything beneficial to the world. Most of the time we doubt ourselves, and I'm no exception. I criticize that my thoughts are too undeveloped, not clearly articulated, and probably too unique to my situation that others won't benefit. These concerns have been swept away as I learned in a webinar by Jeff Goins (goinswriter.com), "There are things that are obvious to you that are amazing to others." I appreciate that so many of you have given me feedback and insight into your own search for passion and fulfillment. I hope that I can return that kindness with the articles that I write and share.
   
   Thank you, thank you, thank you!
   
   
4. Uh-oh...I think I found a passion
   
   I'm starting to realize that I love writing. I love putting my thoughts down on paper (or typed in a blog post) and after I release it to the world, I'm energized and am immediately thinking of what I can do next. That is how we should feel about work! I believe that there is such a diversity in all humans in our abilities, our likes, our values, and interests that if we could all follow our passions, everything that needs to get done would get done. Search for things that you do in your life where you 1) lose track of time, and 2) seem to have more energy as you're performing the task than before you started.
   
   
5. Everyone should blog
   
   Honestly. I mean everyone!
   
   There is one reason that I've found for this: you're required to ask yourself questions. Every time I write, I ask myself what I should write about, why it's important, who would want to read it, what value it would bring to anyone who reads it, etc. Honestly, I believe that anyone who attains success in their life, whether in a career, with relationships, with raising a family, or with accomplishing goals, comes because they have a solid understanding of themselves. They know their strengths and weaknesses, their beliefs, ideals, goals, and how their actions propel them to being successful.  Blogging, really writing of any kind, is one of the key principles of that self-understanding and discovery. If you've felt that you don't understand yourself as we'll as you'd like, start a journal, a blog, or something that will allow you to see what you think and feel during various circumstances of your life. I promise that this kind of exercise will allow you to know yourself better than almost any other thing. And with a price of free, what do you have to lose?