“Ask yourself what’s really important, then have the wisdom and courage to build your life around that answer.”  – Lee Jampolsky

On this, my 100th post, I thought it was time to indulge in a little self-reflection.  Why did I decide to blog in the first place?  What was I hoping to gain from such an arduous venture?

Looking back, I didn’t start my blog to get rich quick or become Insta-famous.  After all, I didn’t know the first thing about blogging and I lacked even the most basic knowledge of how to take a decent photo of myself (given my natural state of awkward with a splash of disaster).  No, I was simply searching for more.  I’d decided I didn’t want my life to be an endless loop of days on repeat.  Instead, I wanted to dream, explore, connect, and grow.  And through sheer happenstance, I stumbled upon blogging as the answer.

It’s been quite the odyssey since I sat down to fumble through creating my site’s first content a year and a half ago.  And in that time I’ve been frustrated, exhilarated, defeated, delighted, and everything in between.

So, what has it taught me?

Well, in addition to a few grammatical gems and discovering my ability to function with almost no sleep, I’ve learned quite a bit.

And I’m not simply talking about how to read code or ways to implement an effective SEO strategy (or what the heck SEO even is).  No, I’m talking about the unexpected life lessons learned from blogging.

Here are ten such pearls of wisdom I’ve picked up during my blogging journey.

1. The Value of Time

I remember my days before blogging when I would actually get bored.  As in twiddle my thumbs, mindlessly flip through channels, not sure what to do with myself bored.

It’s such a foreign concept now.

Once you start blogging, there never seems to be enough time in the day.  Between researching topics, writing posts, editing photos, creating graphics, managing social media, scheduling pins, and completing online courses (in addition to everyday life) it can be completely overwhelming.

But, with scarcity of time comes clarity.  Instead of spinning my wheels with things that don’t warrant my attention, I’m laser-focused on what does.  Now, I’m extremely selective with who and what I give my free time to.  And, I’ve learned that saying “no” is simply saying “yes” to something else.

Life Lesson:

Time really is precious, so be careful where you spend it.

2. Invest in Your Dreams

You have to spend money to make money.  As much as I hate the cliché, it’s true.

In order to be successful at anything in life, you need to do more than simply wish for it.  Instead, you have to invest your time and money into making it a reality.  In blogging, that may mean signing up for a course that will broaden your skills, or upgrading to an awesome hosting service, or purchasing a paid theme (or hiring a great web designer), or even getting a new laptop instead of the oversized paperweight you’ve been trying to get by with.

I’m not saying to take on massive amounts of debt, but you should spend at least as much on your goals as you did on that fantastic pair of shoes you justified buying last week.

Life Lesson:

Put your money where your mouth is.  Instead of talking about your dreams, invest in them!

3. Surround Yourself with Good People

It was once said that you are the sum total of the five people you spend the most time with.

I absolutely believe this to be true.  Without sounding too much like your high school guidance counselor, if you hang around people who always complain, never take accountability, and are content to just meander through life, you’ll become just like them.  You’ll make excuses, play the victim, and never realize your potential.

But, when you surround yourself with people who inspire you to be better, motivate you to do more, and lead by example, you start to see the endless possibilities before you.  Seek those people out!

If you want to be one of the top bloggers in your industry, reach out to those who already are.  If you want to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company, start hanging around places they spend time to meet people in their sphere.

I’ve met some of the most incredible people during my time blogging.  Individuals who have taught me valuable skills, helped me when I was stuck, motivated me to keep going, and inspired me with their achievements.  And, it’s these relationships that have been the most unexpected reward for all my hard work.

Life Lesson:

Surround yourself with individuals you can look to, learn from, and lean on.

4. Avoid Perfection Paralysis

When you’re pouring so much time and effort into an endeavor, it’s easy to want it to be perfect.  And when it’s not, you stall.

You know you have to get your latest post published, but it’s not quite right.  So while you mull it over, you go about emptying the dishwasher… and folding the laundry… and organizing your closet… and alphabetizing your DVD collection… and re-tiling your bathroom…

Oh, the many ways we procrastinate.

Spoiler alert – it’s never going to be perfect!  As we learn and grow, the things we once thought were awesome will be cringe-worthy later on.  Look at anyone’s smokin’ style in their high school yearbook picture and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.

But, that’s ok!  Put it out there anyways!  After all, if you never take the leap, you’ll never learn to fly.

Life Lesson:

Perfection doesn’t mean a thing if no one ever sees it.

5. Put Your Blinders On

We love to compare ourselves to others.  Our heads are on a swivel and before we know it, we’re flying down a shame spiral of epic proportion.

My site looks like crap compared to theirs.  My photos will never be as incredible as the ones they take.  They’ve already cornered the market on my niche, so why would anyone listen to me?

Defeated, we slink away to sweep what’s left of our shattered dreams under the rug.

It’s so easy to look at all the amazing things other people are doing and feel like you’ll never compare.  And you’re right, you won’t!  But not because you’re not good enough, or smart enough (or because gosh darnit, people don’t like you).  No, you won’t compare because they’re them and you’re you.  And that’s a good thing!

No one else has the same experience, perspective, or style as you.  And, that unique viewpoint makes what you have to say valuable!  So, don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, and instead, focus on what you have to offer!

Life Lesson:

There is only one you, so don’t rob the world of your sparkle by trying to be someone else.

6. Don’t Take Things For Granted

In the beginning, each little win is worthy of a ticker-tape parade.  Hitting your first 100 page views, being quoted in an article, ranking on Google.  It’s all so new and exciting!

And then as you grow, those things begin to feel commonplace.

Someone commented on a blog post?  Eh, whatevs.  USA Today wants to feature you in their latest article?  Been there, done that.  Someone said they read everything you write?  Of course they do, you’re kind of a big deal.

And before you know it, your head is the size of a Goodyear blimp.

What happened?!  There was a time when any one of those things would have had you walking on Cloud 9! Even looking at my feature image for this post, I noticed how abysmal my monthly pageviews were.  But man, back then I was thrilled to have 618 page views a month!  A figure that’s laughable to me now.

It’s important not to forget where you started, and appreciate how very far you’ve come.

Life Lesson:

Celebrate each success, no matter how big or small.

7. The Importance of Positivity

Few things in life are as important as a positive attitude.  Why do you think those cheesy motivational posters are so popular?

And when it comes to blogging (or any new venture), that positivity is the life raft that will save you when you’re drowning in a sea of overwhelm.  Without it, it’s easy to get down on yourself and wonder why you even bother.  It’s just too hard, you’re not seeing the fruits of your labor, and you’re not where you thought you’d be by now.

Welcome to Negative Town, population – you.

It’s no wonder 99% of blogs fail in the first year!  That’s why it’s so important to focus on the positive and realize that nothing worth doing is ever easy.  If it were, everyone would be doing it!

And, if all else fails, hang one of those motivational posters next to your desk.  Something along the lines of a kitten dangling from a tree branch telling you to just “hang in there!”  Wise words.

Life Lesson:

Every situation has a silver lining, you just have to look for it.

8. Remember Your Why

Because anything worth doing is difficult, it’s important to remember your “why” to stay motivated when the chips are down.  And, if your “why” only revolves around making money, then chances are you’re going to fail.

A “why” has to be something more.  Maybe it’s the freedom to make your own schedule or spend more time with loved ones.  Maybe it’s helping people in an area you’re passionate about.  Or maybe it’s learning more about a topic you’re interested in.

Whatever it is, it needs to be something worth fighting for.  Because in the end, that’s what it’ll come down to.

Life Lesson:

Remember why you started in the first place and never give up.

9. Be Kind To Yourself

You know that mother hen instinct that kicks in when some jerk is being mean to someone you care about?  When your blood starts to boil and you begin to fantasize about giving them a swift throat punch?

Why is it we approach standing up for others like we’re the Terminator, but so easily cut ourselves down?  We make disparaging jokes about our shortcomings while secretly wondering if we’re inadequate.  Or discount our goals because we’re too embarrassed to have them (“I heard one blogger makes over $100,000 a month!  But I’m sure I’ll never earn that much…”)

Life is difficult enough without being hard on yourself!  So focus on building yourself up just as you would a friend.  Pat yourself on the back for things you’ve accomplished, be forgiving when you make a mistake, and support yourself in the way you deserve to be supported.

Life Lesson:

Treat yourself how you want others to be treated.

10. Find Balance

Oof, balance.  This is a tricky one (and something I still struggle with today).

Being an obsessive Type A personality, when I set my mind to something I’ll move heaven and earth to make it happen.  Imagine a pitbull with a pork chop and you’ll begin to grasp my intensity.

So, when I discovered my love for blogging and everything that came along with it (travel, photography, writing, graphic design, marketing, etc) I was hooked.  Showers and sleep and free time be damned!

Not surprisingly, it became a problem.

I started to neglect everyday responsibilities, put people on the back burner, and forgot about things I once loved.  In my attempt to fearlessly pursue what set my soul of fire, I became an outright inferno.

While it’s important to have passion, drive, and commitment when chasing your dreams, it’s equally important to not forget about the people and things that helped get you there.  Give yourself a set amount of time to work, and then walk away.  Get outside for a walk, meet a friend for lunch, enjoy an old hobby, just do something else!  And, most importantly, spend time with the ones you’re working so hard for in the first place.

Life Lesson:

If you give it everything you’ve got, you may be left with nothing.

There are so many lessons learned from blogging, I could go on for days!  But at the end of the day, it’s taught me to not only chase my dreams, but to have one in the first place.  To believe in the limitless power of visualization and positivity (they really can accomplish the impossible!)  And, to keep going despite hopelessness, tears, shot nerves, and feeling utterly defeated.

Because in the end, the greatest lesson is to live a life on purpose.  To build your limited time around what makes you feel alive, and to wake up every day with intent and determination to pursue it.

So what sets your soul on fire?  Comment below, I’d love to hear what it is (and what you’ve learned from it!)

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