Can blogging be a tool for self-discovery? I believe it can, and I’d like to share my thoughts and experiences with you on how it can. Self-discovery leads to self-improvement, and self-improvement leads to success–however you define it. I believe blogging is a path to self-discovery because that’s what I do.
Who can use blogging for self-discovery? Really, anyone, but here are some groups of people who I think might be more ready than most to take their personal growth to the next level:
- Recent empty nesters
- New entrepreneurs
- New activists
- Dedicated artists
- Newly suffering a personal/family tragedy (such as a cancer diagnosis)
So what is blogging for self-discovery?
Let’s go back in time a bit. When blogs first came on the scene, they were described as "online diaries." But blogs are much more than that. Traditionally, a diary is not something you share with others, but a blog is. People do not stop by your house and read your diary entries and then write their own opinions in your diary. But with blogs, that’s exactly what you do (makes comment spam seem even uglier, when you look at that way, doesn’t it?).
I know it seems obvious that I’m saying a blog is like a diary, except it’s online and people can leave comments, but that’s exactly what changes everything: You are not alone. Others will find you. The ones who need you will find you. As you blog for yourself and work through your own issues, you become a universal magnet for others. They will leave comments on your public personal issues diary–your blog.
And you will discover these other people in the same situation as you also blogging. Suddenly, you have both an audience and a support network at the same time. This is a key difference between blogging and being a blogger vs. any other kind of media or publishing endeavor. The barrier between publisher, reader, and participant has become a thin veil, through which we can pass with ease.
Several people have contacted me privately and have told me that they’re watching what I’m doing here at Remarkablogger with keen interest. In essence, what they have said is that they’re watching me grow. And it’s true: I am growing as a person right before your eyes. That’s part of what makes Remarkablogger what it is–a journey that you join in with along the way.
Tips and pointers on blogging for self-discovery
- The most personal feelings and events are universally experienced by others: the more personal you get with your blogging, the more universal you get.
- Others will project their problems and issues onto you. You are a mirror in which people see themselves and they may not like what they see, but they will blame you.
- You can monetize any subject matter, but I recommend you build your audience and their trust first. It may be that your blogging will provide you with opportunity more than direct revenue.
- Despite that you may be going through terrible problems, when you’re blogging for self-discovery, you become other people’s hero. Nobody wants to see their hero feeling depressed or losing it. Is that fair? No. Is it realistic that you can always put on a brave front? No. But nevertheless, this is where the support group aspect breaks down. This is where you need private communications with close friends or a mastermind group.
- Provide opportunity for others to share their experiences in your space through guest-blogging and social media.
What’s your path to self-discovery?
There may be groups of people who are particularly ready to benefit from blogging for self-discovery I haven’t thought of, but you have. You may have a pointer or a tip about blogging for self-discovery I haven’t recognized. If so, I’d love to have you share that in the comments or write your own blog post on self-discovery blogging and tell us about it in the comments here.
18 Comments
Michael, I really love this post. When I first started my blog, it was absolutely me writing for me, and online public diary of some sort.
The fact that I have and will continue to write articles of very personal nature has brought people to me dealing with much the same thing, and because I’ve written about the topic and have been there myself, they are better able to trust me and suggestions/advice I may offer.
Especially the articles about “helping vs enabling” grown children. The number of questions and comments from visitors continues to grow and grow many months after they were written. In some ways, these people write to me as though I’m there last hope, their support group when they can’t find a support group, a place to vent etc. Being very real with people on my site builds trust, and they keep coming back.
@Lin - Thanks, I’m glad this resonated with you and that your experience bears out what the post is about. People want to connect with each other and we learn by comparing our own story to others’ stories, and blogs are great for that.
Michael,
I have started many blogs, but I first started blogging for adoption.com blogs about my adoption experience. Connecting with others who were interested in what I was interested in was important to me. I also have a written history of my adoption journey and ended up with an ebook about foster-adoption. The process allowed me to explore how adoption fit into my life and my purpose. After the adoption was finalized I realized I still loved blogging, and went on to blog at midlifemommy, then changed my consciousdestiny site to a blog, and then it all morphed into my Divine Purpose site! What a journey heh? Yes! blogging CAN lead you to your life purpose. Thanks for a great post. I agree!
I really like this post. I found in my blog that I do like putting out my opinion and seeing what people have to say, but I started my blog with the idea that I would just give free tech support.
But I like the “community” now. I read all the logs from my commenters and have found a lot of people who are like me.
~ Jim
Heyya Michael,
this post particularly rings true for me at the moment. I’ve just put up a rather huge post on my own blog regarding the change that has kinda happened over the past month of my official site being live. It wasn’t really meant to be a self-discovery thing, yet in some ways, it has certainly turned out that way. Who would have thought it, huh? I didn’t. Not for what I was doing. It turned out that way anyway.
This is a well written post! I have been working with developing people for over 20 years and I have found that writing is such a great tool in self discovery as well as healing. Add the ability to interact with others and the power grows expedentially! I reommend blogging as a way to do this. Don’t worry if you don’t feel that you are a great writer. A personal blog is just that! I’ve seen some that are not well written at all, but very transparent. This builds relationship & trust!
@Michelle - I love how the names of your blogs evolved along with you! As we move through life, we reach a point where our search for meaning intensifies and we begin to be concerned with the legacy we will leave behind. Divine purpose, indeed!
@Jim - Interesting how when you bring other people into the mix, that just sorta happens. And everyone involved is richer in spirit because of that.
@Kat - I would go so far as to say nearly ALL writing is a process of self-discovery. Knowing that and acting consciously makes a big difference, though.
@Nancy - I agree. Many times I have encouraged people to write things down so that their thinking is clear. It’s too easy to believe we know our own minds when in fact our head are filled with fuzzy generalities. Writing clarifies!
The thought of people driving to my house and leaving comments in my journal, made me laugh out loud.
I know myself better now than I did ten weeks ago. That is because I blog.
@Writer Dad - And people wonder why bloggers make such a big deal about blogging! That’s some pretty cheap therapy, no?
Over the years I’ve been writing my personal blog I do feel I’ve come to know myself better. I didn’t start it with that in mind, and few of the posts could be described as profound, but I suppose it’s almost inevitable when you record your personal thoughts on a regular basis.
I’ve also built up a great network of friends who are of a similar age and in a similar stage of life to me. I’m only a few years away from being an empty nester and there is something reassuring about knowing you aren’t the only one going through an experience. Without my blog I wouldn’t have met such wonderful people and, to me, that is one the biggest benefits.
Hi Michael
First of all, let me thank you for posting blogs which cover such a wide-ranging audience! WOW! I look forward to your posts because I never know what will come; but I do know they will be both inspirational and practical. Now that is a powerful combination.
My first venture into blogging came from realising I loved thinking on to a keyboard, I wanted a different kind of format than a journal. I wanted a way to explore my personal venture into self-awareness practices so I could track it all and reflect more systematically than my seemingly random thought-streams and selective memory!
For the first few months I enabled my site for “allowed readers” only - I bet you can guess how many “allowed readers” there weren’t. Then, I opened the audience to all-comers and now I relish having a readership. I currently have 2 blogs. One with a personal focus: http://transformative-living.blogspot.com/
And one with a more organisational focus:
http://beyondlogic.blogspot.com/
My blogs explore choice-full living and in particular the inner awareness practices of Focusing and Mindfulness as well as the interpersonal practice of Nonviolent Communication. But they do blat about a bit as I find tid-bits I want to share.
I notice I am getting more and more driven to “write” and this is a curious side-benefit for me. I hadn’t imagined blogging as “writing” in that traditional sense of it, until I blogged. Now I am HOOKED. Gone is the notion of writing as being the grand novel and I say hello to sharing, connecting and enjoying blogs from all over the world. What a wealth of talent, energy, & value all out there for anyone to enjoy.
GO BLOGGERS!!!
ps. the next big thrill will be when we can translate blogs automatically from different languages!! What a thrill to read blogs from all over the other-than-English-speaking world.
Ha!! The very next blog I went to had a Yahoo translation tool (thanks to Kate above). Synchronicity strikes again. Goosebumps too.
I often skim through posts to try and get the basic idea behind it. I, like many, have limited time. But I found myself reading every word. I wanted to hear all of what you had to say. This is the sign of a great post.
When I started my first blog just 2 months ago I had no idea of the journey I was about to embark on. From the struggles to the joy of meeting so many great people, I have really fallen in love with this form of communication/media. I don’t really have anything to add to your post at this point in time, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!
I have not gotten so much satisfaction from blogging as a means of self expression and discovery. I’m also pretty much amazed by the support that I’ve been receiving on the blogosphere. Yes…most certainly, blogging has enriched my life! So I definitely second the idea about using blogging for self discovery!
Remarkable Communication helped me figure out what business I was in, what customers I could help, what made me different from the quintrillion other copywriters out there looking for work, who I wanted to model and who I didn’t.
The relationships and alliances have been great–amazing, actually–with blogging. But that self exploration and discovery have been the best part for me.
@WriterDad, very cool.
@Sonia - I don’t know of any other form of marketing that also doubles as a vehicle for self-discovery!
Incredible post. Definitely a mirror for me. Being a 6 month old blogger, I really identify with what you are saying.
Good luck with your journey!!
@James, you type pretty good for being 6 months old.
(Couldn’t resist, sorry!) You’re in for a great journey ahead! The more you blog, the more you will grow.