Can You Be Humble and Still Blog?
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Without wanting to contradict myself, I’d say I’m a pretty humble guy. Blogging is a medium that can, at times, feel like the antithesis of that statement.
Most of what I blog is birthed out of my own passions and convictions, which are, at their very core, very self-centered reflections and thoughts.
On the other hand, part of sharing my journey online is out of a true desire for connectedness and community - in helping others see a glimpse into the raw part of who I am and inviting them to walk alongside me. Isn’t this humility? ... Placing the focus on sharing of myself in hopes of impacting and helping others?
There lies the paradox of using a medium that is very introspective and self-focused in an effort to be extrospective and others-focused.
It’s a paradox that I’m happy and totally comfortable with, however.
I’ve seen the opposite, though. There are plenty of examples around. Bloggers whose chief aim is to build a name for themselves, to point the arrow back at them, to build a ‘following’ for the sake of building a following. People who are consumed with numbers, and public opinion to the point that it becomes very unhealthy, in my opinion.
I’m still holding onto the hope that by walking the thin line between being self- and others-focused is a healthy place to be - even if it is a difficult place to be.
What are your thoughts? Can you be humble and still blog?
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Daniel Decker shared their voice on 05.26.2009:
I think we can most certainly blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc. and stay humble although there is a danger (as with all things). To me, it boils down to intent and self awareness. Having the right intentions and constantly reflecting on why it is you do what you do so you don’t get distracted by the wrong things.
We all have an internal desire to be recognized and respected. Not always from a narcissistic point of view but one of wanting to be able to say things that people resonate with and find value in, because we truly care about making a difference. We all want to be heard and want our voice, our opinion to matter and that’s where it can get tricky. We have to stay in constant check with ourselves and our own ambitions so that we don’t tip the scale in the wrong direction.
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Kenneth shared their voice on 05.26.2009:
I hope so. To me blogging is just another part of community. Can you be humble and share what is going on in your life in a conversation? Can’t blogging just be the start of another conversation? Humility is an attitude which can be shown in a blog as well as in person. I do agree that there are those who blog to build a following. Similarily there are those who like to hear their own voice and need to have that attention drawn to them in person as well. I don’t think the medium (a blog) makes one humble or self-serving, but rather the purpose behind it does. Sharing your passions and thoughts doesn’t make you self-focused. If you state that you have it all figured out, then I might question whether you are showing humility.