Last night when I was visiting blogs I landed on a beautiful post written by Jodi at Joy Discovered.

In the post “Great Expectations”, Jodi shares how we often live our lives by the expectations of others and in the process, forget to live for our authentic self.

I don’t want to give “it” away, but will say, the post is well worth the read.

It was how Jodi started her post which inspired this one.

Today’s Lesson

Jodi opened her post by sharing how Elizabeth Gilbert’s book, Committed came to be.

…Gilbert describes how it was difficult to write this new book because this time around, she was writing to an audience of millions, all expecting another mega hit after the super-stardom achieved by Eat, Pray, Love. Gilbert wrote an entire draft of Committed with this vast crowd in mind, and then placed it in a drawer and began the book again. The second attempt was written ”for exactly twenty-seven readers,” all women (pXV). It was only in writing to this intimate group of friends and relatives that she could find her authentic voice and share her story with intention and meaning.

The part that struck me was how the book “…was written for exactly twenty-seven readers”.

Jodi goes on to say she writes as though she’s speaking to one of her good friends who lives a few states away.

If Gilbert is writing for 27 readers, and Jodi is writing for her friend a few states away, it makes me wonder, who do other bloggers write for?

We know we have an audience, but how do we envision them. After all, in many instances, they are imaginary.

As I read Jodi’s words, I questioned whom I write for.

My answer is “you”.

Sometimes I’m thinking of a specific blogger, but most of the time it is “you” as a group. You who share your thoughts in the comment section. You whom I communicate with on your blogs. Twitter and Facebook. You whom I know are reading, but not commenting.

Like Elizabeth Gilbert,  if I were to think I was blogging for the masses, my creativity would probably escape me.

What about you?

Today’s Assignment

Whom do your write for?

Is it someone specific? Or a group?

Or do you just write with no audience in mind?

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P.S. Don’t forget to check out Jodi’s Great Expectations post as well as the archives of her Joy Discovered blog.

Remember the children’s verse:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”?

That’s a lie. Words do hurt.

Take, for instance, the parent who has a child say “I hate you”. Or, the parent who tells a child, “You’ll never amount to anything.” These are words that can feel like a knife in our heart.

When someone in a relationship hears the words “I don’t love you any more”; that hurts, too.

Career wise, being told “You’re fired” can make our heart sink, get our mind reeling and can change not only our life, but our life style, as well.

Some who hear the words, “You’re broke” can become so depressed, they contemplate ending their life.

Although we can forgive those who voiced the negative words, many will admit they never truly forget the specific words which were spoken. For some, those words will continue to play in their head like a broken record and possibly squelch their self esteem, as well as their hopes and dreams for a brighter future forever.

So yes, words can hurt us.

On the flip side, just hearing short statements such as “You’re awesome”, “You’re pretty” or “I love you” can lift us up.

Positive statements can make our heart sing or give us a reason to push forward. In fact, words of encouragement have been known to change lives.

In her free ebook, “Think Like A Black Belt”, Lori adds how words can help in self defense. She writes how, when spoken with authority, words can possibly thwart a physical or verbal attack or even save a life.

Words, which are simply individual letters strung together, truly do have power.

How we use them becomes a choice we all make.

Today’s Lesson

When we blog, our posts are compiled of words we choose to string together to convey a message.

In most cases, words are all we have to offer to our readers.

Via words, stories are told, lessons are taught, reviews are written, quotes are shared, photos are described, and comments are constructed.

Blog authors can become known and trusted because of what they write, and just as a caring friend can lift another person up with words, bloggers have the ability to to that, too.

Blogging gives us the gift of sharing via our words.

And it is in our words where our power truly lies.

How are you using yours?

Today’s Assignment

Our words can have a huge impact on the lives of those who read our blogs. How do you hope yours affect others?

Have the words of others changed your life, too?

Care to share?

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