What is the Deeper PURPOSE of Your Posts on Steemit?
As Steemit keeps growing and growing, I have been trying to keep up with the latest from some of my favorite Steemians...
There is such an amazing variety of content here; along with this truly global cornucopia of experiences, opinions and values. So much great content... so little time.
Made me think a little about my post from yesterday, pondering what brings us here... and the issue of being seen.
What Lies Below the Surface... for Each of Us?
Yellow Hypericum in bloom
Then I remembered @teamsteem's recent post "Never Lose Sight Of Why You’re Posting!" from a few days ago (totally worth a read, if you have a few!) and I came back to this question of what is the deeper purpose of our posts here?
Of my posts; of your posts?
It's really easy to say "I'm just posting on a social media site," or "I'm here because I can earn reward" but those answers live at a surface layer of our awareness.
In this super fast attention economy, we have gotten used to grab headlines and never taking the time to sit down and examining our deeper motivations. Some have even forgotten completely how to have a deep dialogue with themselves.
What is REALLY the purpose of your posts?
Purple rhododendron
For a moment, let's push all the superficial stuff out of the way, and what do you find below, as the true reason for posting here?
Are you teaching?
Are you connecting?
Are you promoting-- yourself, art, a cause, an ideal?
Are you exploring your own creativity?
Are you really here to learn about YOURSELF?
Are you hoping to change the world?
Are you exploring; looking for answers?
When you sit down and start typing-- or share that photograph; share that YouTube clip; share your art... what are you really doing?
Heart of the flower
Sitting in Self-Inquiry
When you sit with the deeper meaning of that question, it's almost never as simple as it sounds. That's often the case with true "self-inquiry;" answers that seem obvious at first glance ("I'm here for the money") may turn out to have many layers, much like an onion.
My own "superficial answer" is that I am here because because I miss "personal social blogging" like we had on the web, 12-15 years ago... and by some strange twist of fate, the Steemit format pretty closely emulates the style of 2001-05.
But that's superficial.
The deeper inquiry is why was I on those sites, back then... and why was the experience significant enough that in 2017, Steemit feels like "a sort of homecoming?" Certainly, the sense of community has something to do with it, but there's more.
The answer is-- ultimately-- that I am a hopeless idealist. There is something inside me that feels compelled to try to do something to help the world; to help it become a better place; become a little less screwed up.
French lavender in bloom
But I'm not an inventor, I'm not a social genius, I'm not a power broker, I'm not a placard waving activist, I'm not a politician... so what do I do? Where can I bring forth my idealism without it just feeling like a frustrating exercise in powerlessness? What can I do?
Well, sometimes I can write, and sometimes my words make people stop and think. By extension, I can surmise that the "deeper purpose" of my posts is to try to see how I can "intercept" your thought pattern and make you consider an alternative direction you may not previously have considered.
And if even one person out of every hundred who reads this blog has a moment of insight that results in a change for the better... then this was worthwhile. And the "purpose" attained.
Not saying the rewards aren't NICE... of course they are! But they are just "a thing." Changing the world is much bigger...
How about YOU? Have you ever considered the deeper purpose behind your posting here? Do you ever engage in a process of "self-inquiry" to help unearth your true motivations? Do you consider yourself an idealist? Or are you perfectly content with the world as is? Does this sort of deeper thinking make you feel a little uncomfortable? If so, why? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- start the conversation!
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for Steemit)
Education, fun and it makes me immortal.
Ah yes, the immortal part... hadn't thought of that, but there is a chance what we create here will be on the blockchain forever!
I hope this post gets a ton of views/votes/payout for you, this may be one of the most undervalued posts of the week for sure.
What a great topic and article -- but that is what you always bring to the table my friend.
I have stepped past some personal boundaries here after months of posting..... but largely I am posting about things I believe can fundamentally shift and change humanity - most of my stuff is liberty / crypto currency based which are twinned together.
In posting my beliefs you may notice I always point to things to try to use regular person blue collar language since so many new people are coming into this space as well as non - native english first language speakers and I want to help them as well.
Right now I assume myself as onion. The first reason I am writing a post is for reward but as @denmarkguy said that I must go to deeper to find the core of the real main reason. It is like find your own passion.
@barrydutton, You have helped many steemians who have English is not as the mother language with giving courage them to leave comment on your posting. First, Honestly, I am really interested in behind of philosophy of blockchain and cryptocurrency, but I do not have computer science or mathematic background, it is really hard for me to understand technically about cryptocurrency and blockchain. Also many sources about that writing in English, that will need double effort to understand it.Second Learning other language besides my own mother language and local language is important, I like when hear someone talk in another language especially when they are sing a song with their own language
That is nice of you to say about me, thanks a lot!!!
A few mths ago, I made a post about some of my favorite Steemians - and one of them I named was @jlufer for those reasons you just named about the posters who have to work extra hard, writing in their non native languages like English!
Thanks again for the nice comments today! It means a lot to me.
I love learning things from other languages and cultures.
Sing a song as you put it too, that is very profound, very sharp of you to write that in that way!
Thanks for the kind words @barrydutton! We'll see what happens with the post... I never quite know which ones will "get legs" and run, and which ones won't.
I just hope I can make people STOP and think even if for just a brief moment... a little something to snap out of that automaton routine so many live within.
One of the things I always enjoy about your posts, Barry, is that they are very no-nonsense and to the point... and typically quite useful. That's a good thing to be known for, for sure.
You are always kind to me.
Something else you or others might also find useful and practical then is this!!!
The SAK post #1 is up now.... it is the Advance Notice post for the Swiss Army Knife GAW coming soonish.....
https://steemit.com/steemit/@barrydutton/giveaway-contest-advance-notice-i-will-be-giving-away-a-swiss-army-knife-shortly-tied-to-my-offgrid-homesteading-bushcraft
Have a great week my friend.
It is kind words like yours once in awhile that helps someone along in life.
Barry! Barry! Barry! Barry! You're everywhere it matters and everywhere you are, you spread your awesomeness.
That is so nice of you man, I just got in the door and spread some more charts and stats around in a Crypto update too hahaha!
I really appreciate your kindness and encouragement more than you know mon frere!
Self-Inquiry is a Big Deal. Utmost importance really, because our effectiveness in everything else is a result of our depth or lack thereof self-inquiry. Our capacity for depth is deep.
I like what you said about, ' even one person finding this post and it having a supportive impact on their life'...this to me is the real heart of sharing our best stuff. And 'best stuff' is not a standardized thing...there's so many different ways in which this can come out...come through...appealing to a range of tastes and interests.
Purposeful sharing comes to mind...as like a 'giving to give...because you got it and you know it's awesome'.
Thanks @denmarkguy
I Enjoy your sharing's!
Steem On!
@worldclassplayer, thanks for the kind words and encouragement.
For me, part of the beauty of Steemit-- at least what I am observing-- is that there is a sort of "opening" here. There's this amazing sense of community, and people who are used to responding "cool" or "nice post" on Facebook are feeling inspired to open up and weigh in authentically... perhaps with a comment or two, and then moving on to creating posts with a "depth" they might not have experienced before.
I just see myself as a slightly nutty "fun house mirror" that shines back a reflection of "what it is to be human" in ways people might not have thought about before. Not because I am "special" or "smart" or "weird," but simply because it seems like a right example to set.
Which, perhaps, is basically paraphrasing what you just said...
Awesome Share Here @denmarkguy
What really stood out for me in your comment:
"there is a sort of opening here"
Yes 100% agree.
And
"fun house mirror"
I really like this point of regard. I will use it too!
Steem On Brother :)
My purpose is to help people learn, and be healthy, and hopefully for me to avoid homelessness. I'm not doing so well so far. I'm set to be homeless in one week. My cat is going to be pissed.
I'm afraid my upvote will only buy 1/4 can of cat food. But hopefully it won't get that dire for you.
Thanks for the vote of cat-food-ness.
Hopefully not, I may have to cash out of Steemit, is my regret. I like being able to contribute to steemit on a vote level, as well as a content level. Being a plankton again is not an attractive option. We'll see what happens.
I hear you... I've had to switch from full powered up posts to 50/50... because, you know, bills. But then I remind myself to be grateful that we do have Steemit... as the few dollars my other blogs earn from AdSense doesn't cover the cost of cat food, either.
I was full powered up for a while until I saw what Steem dollars are doing. They're supposed to be pegged to the dollar, but their price is wandering all around. I'd be remiss if I didn't have a piece of something that is acting in a way that's not supposed to be possible.
Also, bills.
I think all of the above - great post! It kind of reminds me of the old days when we all huddled around a fire in a cave wondering what mysteries lay in the darkened depths painted on the cave walls.
I feel like there is a deeper purpose but I'm a bit at a loss as to what it is or if I'm even very effective in conveying it. A bit like placing your hand on the cave wall and blowing a soot pattern around it. Maybe some day it will become easier for me to explain my thoughts better.
I do consider myself an idealist but I'm just doing what I'm doing. I do have hopes that our combined posting efforts will raise the quality of life for many people.
Steemit is a fascinating ecosystem, to me... it's bringing back story telling; it's bringing back social blogging; it's "Facebook with Freedom;" it's so many things... and we're all part of this great experiment together.
I keep redefining what my "purpose" is... and maybe that's part of the experience, as well... a circle of life thing: We learn about others as a result of which we learn about ourselves and then we share that knowledge with others who learn and pass it on.
It is almost as if "my purpose" is evolving a bit into finding "our purpose" and though we have individual goals and accounts they are very linked to how well the social network works. I think this is a lot of what attracted me initially to Steemit.
The format gives a lot of individual freedom yet there are a few social etiquette type things that successful blogging leads people to do very naturally. To me it is a very interesting and entertaining way of building value together without a lot of hard fast rules.
If this works well, it can show how some of the companies of the future could operate. Kind of like evolving from: "Master Slave" to "Feudalism" to "Capitalism" to "Steemit", LOL. ;)
We can't change the world on our own, so others need to want to, and be on the same page going forward for what we want to create as a new way of life. We only have our words and actions to influence the minds of others. To lead people towards the same path, education (to lead out) is what is needed. People can't often be physically forced to become better (usually), they need the empowerment of knowledge and understanding to arrive at that wisdom to do it properly from the inside out.
Motives: spread truth and moral understanding (teaching), try to find like minds (connecting), keep learning (exploring), and make some money doing it. :)
Education... and just general "awareness spreading." Those are SO important; you have to know something exists before you can educate yourself; then you can go on and empower yourself by education and practical application in the world. Eventually-- as we all move forward with a common goal, real change happens. In the meantime, we are all messengers, telling the stories of how it is possible to create a better way.
Love the post...my purpose is listed in my blog description and nearly a year later it still is the goal.
An excellent and worthy objective... and I'm part of your target market, too.
This is such a nice post! Sure I do read most of your posts if not all but because of the way I consume them I'm rarely in front of my screen when I listen to them and thus why I rarely comment.
I love your posts!
@teamsteem, thanks for the kinds words and encouragement! You're definitely part of the Steemit "A-list."
I really love to read your posts, maybe the reason is that I share same principles and am as much idealistic as you are. I think that I'm more a "reader" and creative thinker than writer. What I enjoy on this platform is there are many great authors and content that I enjoy reading, and looking. Who knows maybe one day I will overcome insecurities and start writing myself, at the moment I'm fighting inner voice which always bugs me "English is not your first language so you will not be able to express thoughts" .
@dijana969, for me, part of the beauty of Steemit is that there are so many ways to be part of the community. Some people almost never write a post, yet become very active community members simply through reading and commenting... being part of the discussion. And thank goodness we have "readers" as well as content creators!
Sometimes you just have to jump out there, and forget the inner voice! I'm also a non-native English speaker...
I'm here only 3 days and for now my main purpose is to explore my own creativity and explore other people and create connections with.
I'm happy to be here because I do belive we, as a human race, can grow only together and seems for me #steemit is the best platform for. I really mean it
@allfabeta, that's a really beautiful answer! One of the great things about the Steemit community is precisely that the community here is strong. Even if people first say they are here for the money... they often end up forgetting about that, as they get deep down inside having meaningful connections with others that amount to MUCH more than twitter or SnapChat could ever hope to.
and after 5 days and after getting my first money here, I still mean it