Because I know so many that are thinking about blogging or trying to find their “blogging” identity (meaning what kind of shape and voice is their blog going to take), I’m going to share some of why I started and why I keep doing it.The foundation was laid from some of my seminary friends from my first degree program at Bethel. Some of them got into it and they suggested I start. That was about 4 years ago and it took over a year to launch my blog from when they first nudged me in this direction. One of my primary motivations was to keep in touch in a different with these guys and continue doing a little bit of life together and continuing the learning across geography and busy schedules.The second factor for me was taking the Strengthsfinder assessment. Of my strengths, most of them lend themselves to reflection and a rich internal life (Context, Intellection, Learner). A consultant told me (as well as the SF books) that I really needed to start finding ways to do more writing because most of what was going on inside of me had no expression or outlet. Essentially most of what I was thinking about or reflecting on would get lost and most people would have no access to any of it. Because I’m not particularly emotionally expressive or easy to read, it allows people a greater window into who I am and my internal world.Of course the biggest barrier for me and to many others in starting a blog is the anxiety and insecurity of going public with thoughts and opinions where you don’t have much control over people’s perceptions or attitudes regarding your work. Some say blogging is a narcissistic endeavor – after all, why should I expect others to care about what I think and write. There’s a kernal of truth there, but I think most find it pretty scary to put yourself out there with any degree of depth, conviction, or consistency. I had to and continually have to overcome some of my fear of what others think and the reality that both random people and those who I might consistently find myself at odds with might judge or write me off as a moron if they were to happen across my site.So why do I keep doing it? Because it’s a form of therapy for me. It allows me to work out things in my mind in a helpful way and gives me a consistent outlet and venue to organize and synthesize thoughts. I enjoy writing and I tend to function in life at a higher level when I’m writing consistently. I’m wired in such a way where the complexities and daily grind of life in ministry, leadership, and of my life stage with small kids become more a bit more manageable and rich when I can think about the various things I experience and observe in different and engaging ways and try to get it down in writing.It also has opened up new doors to dialogue with different people about a variety of things that are really engaging. I’m amazed at how many exchanges I have with others pertaining to some topic or post. I’ve found that it’s not because I’m brilliant by any stretch, but because as I learn and share I find that it sometimes taps into what something they have learned or are learning as well. These kind of dialogues make it all worth it.So in short, I started to connect with others in both social as well as academic ways as well as to spend time functioning out of my strengths and maybe be a little healthier of a person as well.If you’re thinking about blogging, you’re thinking about it for a reason and I think it’s worth giving it a shot to see if you find it a meaningful endeavor.People blog for different reasons. If you are already blogging, why did you start and why do you keep at it?
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