Some people think that blogging isn't for them. They think that a blogger has to be a subject matter expert or they think that if they can't make money off their blog then it isn't worth even doing. But that doesn't necessarily have to be so. Blogging can be a way for people to engage in personal development.
Blogging as a Practice of Self-Expression
People who are shy or who think they aren't "people persons" can benefit greatly from starting a blog. One of the key characteristics of a blog is the very personal way it's written. Most blogs are written in the first person. The topics usually stem from subjects or stories that are close to the heart of the blogger.
It can be very therapeutic or cathartic for someone to write passages in the first person. Now, why don't they just write it down in a journal and be done with it? The beauty of a blog is also its public nature. A blog invites other bloggers or anyone who visits the blog to leave a comment.
When a blogger writes, it's assumed that the blogger wants to share something with a reader out there. The very idea of writing something personal and opening it up to others is a risk. However, someone who wants to practice self-expression can begin in the space of a blog. When she realizes that it's not very difficult (and she doesn't stand to lose much from sharing a part of her life), she can begin to express herself in other ways, via face to face communication for instance.
Blogging as a Way of Continuous Learning
"But I'm not an expert," someone might say. However, if a person loves her subject matter, there's no limit to what her blog can achieve. People don't necessarily read blogs to get expert advice. They read blogs to read testimonials and stories from real people. Also, writing a blog doesn't necessarily have to be hinged to the condition that it has to have a wide following.
One way for people to find out if they have learned anything is to teach it. A blogger can explore or expound on a subject that she simply loves. Through a blog, anyone can build a database of passages and stories that documents her journey from complete ignorance to enlightenment.
Famous author, Julie Powell, did not start out as a renowned chef, she simply loved cooking. So she started a blog. The blog became a book, Julie and Julia, and then a movie. Of course, one shouldn't expect to achieve the same fame. However, it's good to note what great things can come from a continuous love of learning. The nature of a blog is a state of continuity: it's meant to be a daily or weekly update on a certain topic or subject. In a way, it's a metaphor for life: always a work in progress.
Blogging doesn't necessarily have to be just for experts or for making money, though surely those are good reasons to start to blog. A shy person and an amateur are likely to benefit from blogging too. They can pick any subject or topic they want, preferably something that they love, and start publishing their own personal views and stories.
When it comes to blogging for personal development, there's no right or wrong way to go about it and anyone can put up a blog for free. A blog can be a way to practice self expression or a way for someone to continuously learn about something. Either way, the blogger is sure to enjoy the process and the practice.
Justine Tajonera - Justine Tajonera is married with two children. She is a writer and poet by vocation, used to be web editor and is currently a mobile ...
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