What is blogging?

What is blogging? I've recently find myself deep into this question as I work on an assignment for my Self-Care and Wellness class. My assignment is to choose a topic related to ways of promoting self-care in counsellors. The topic of blogging came up as an option and I suddenly became curious to gain a better understanding of what exactly blogging is, why people blog and what the benefits might be. How can it be used as a form of self care? How is it different from that of creative writing or writing in a journal? And how does having an audience change the experience?

In researching blogging I have discovered that first off, there isn't a lot of research on how it can be a form of self-care for Counsellors. However, many people have found blogging to be a useful form of therapy. Many have said that blogging has caused them to clarify their thoughts rather than just ramble on and on like they would in a journal. It has been a way to see themselves in a mirror and reflect on how they, and their thoughts, might be perceived. It is also a way of finding support and community with those who understand where you are coming from. You feel, in a way, like you are giving back by being vulnerable with your thoughts as others do the same. Some research even states that it is a way for young adults to work on their social skills. To see the value in vulnerability and honesty with others, and although it may begin by blogging to an unknown audience eventually it may play out in relationships in day to day life.

The strongest point was found in a study where they asked smokers to try blogging as a way to potentially quit smoking. Although the bloggers did not end up quitting smoking, they did end up focusing on the process of making life changes. Blogging caused them to reflect upon their life and how they were living. One in particular realized how she was glorifying the act of smoking through her blog photos and descriptions of the relief she felt while smoking. She realized this did not match up with her true feelings on smoking: that it is a bad habit, unhealthy and that she wants to quit. So she began focusing and glorifying things in life that she did admire, like nature: taking pictures of "the lungs of the earth" (trees). All this said, there was a focus change from thinking about why she smoked, when she got the cravings, what it meant to her to the process of making life changes. Pretty powerful I would say. All it takes is a little reflective space to see that maybe how your living is not how you want to live and that you have the ability to recognize and change these things if you'd just take the time to be present and reflect on it throughout the day/week/month/year. Many found that they'd suddenly took on the daily reflective stance of, "Oh, I could blog about this."

Needless to say there is much to be said about the act of blogging. It can be done in so many different ways and provides different things for different people. For some it is a way to promote themselves and maybe their work, others find it gives them a voice, and some use it purely to reflect on life, to process what comes their way and find support to get through. For me, well I've once again just entered into the blogging world but as I write about something I've learned I find it energizing to share my knowledge with others. It kind of makes me feel a little smarter, builds confidence in acknowledging that "Hey, I do know stuff!", and it's nice to know that time spent researching something has not gone to waste. I also appreciate how blogging helps me to compartmentalize whats been learned and should be shared.

But realistically a blog can be whatever you want it to be. So, blog on fellow bloggers!