How Authentic Should Bloggers Be?
How authentic are you? Do you portray yourself online in a certain way so people will think you have it all together? Or are you hiding your real self behind a mask?
Blogging has opened up a new world for me. I’ve made so many online friends. My ‘real life’ friends don’t always understand. But when you read someone’s posts for a time you get a glimpse into their heart. And friendships form. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of my blogging friends in person and I have to say I’ve never been disappointed.
There are bloggers who pour out all their troubles for all to see. As a Christian, I always want to be aware of the words I write. I never write anything about my husband unless we’ve discussed it together. If I choose to write something personal about myself, that’s one thing. But I do think we need to be careful when what we write involves another person.
On the other hand, I’ve come to the realization that I don’t have to have it all together. I’ve had many highs in my life but I’ve also had many lows. Recently, one of my blogging friends who always seems so happy and upbeat wrote a blog post about her recent struggles with depression. I felt so much more connected to her after reading about how she has been trying to deal with this very real issue.
I’ve been through a very difficult and challenging season the last four years. However, I choose to try to look on the bright side and discover the lessons I’m learning through the storms. I’ve found that God has been so faithful. He opens my eyes to new things. He reminds me of the dreams I had as a child. I’m amazed at how He is answering my prayers in ways I never anticipated. But my life still is far from perfect.
I’m reminded of the Scripture from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV):
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Have I been hurting? Oh yes, I have.
Have I been comforted in my difficulties? Oh yes, I have.
So when I encounter a friend going through difficulties similar to my own, I can be there for her since I know how difficult that is. Whatever challenges we’ve faced allows us to understand a bit about others going through similar situations.
So back to my question. How authentic should bloggers be? I believe that’s a question you need to answer for yourself and your situation. But I have to say that I appreciate honesty in a person’s writing. How about you? What do you think?
Blessings and love,
Hi Deb! I so agree with you. I really strive to share my soul’s journey, but also to respect the privacy of others while glorifying God. I believe in authenticity, but to me that means being transparent about my struggles while remaining discerning about how much detail is actually necessary to share. It is a fine balance, and one I believe God will help us develop and fine tune as we submit ourselves and our writing to Him.
There are so many hurting people and many on the fringes who need to know they are not alone, and the only way they will see that Jesus is a gracious, forgiving, patient God is if we let them see that God does not hate His cracked pots, but loves them and sees them beautiful, hole, cherished.
Hugs, and hope to meet you in person someday, too!
Thank you for sharing your take on this Dawn. I do think people need to realize they aren’t alone in their struggles. And I do hope to get to meet you in person one day too.
I try to keep it positive, but always be me…..the real me. Sometimes, I feel freer to be me in the blog world than anywhere else. Actually, I think it’s given me more confidence when I am with friends face to face. Of course, that’s my perspective and only God knows if it’s accurate or not!
I’m certainly thankful for all the people God has allowed me to get to know via the blog world and you are certainly one of them.
Blessings, hugs, and prayers,
andrea
Thanks Andrea. I feel the same way. I love how your blogging authentically has helped you in your face to face relationships.
Debbie, I think I’m more “open” when blogging…maybe because you sort of feel protected because you get to know your blogging friends, so to speak. Does that make sense? But I also want to convey a message on my blog that might help someone else, maybe think differently about a situation or give a different perspective. But sometimes, for me, it has been a way to “clear the air” for me personally.
~Beth
I love how we get to know our blogging friends Beth. But I also think when we open up others see that we don’t have it all together. If we can help someone else, I love that.
I’ve found that my writing slows down when I have been going through a trial for a long time. I want to be encouraging to others, but when I am not encouraged it is difficult. Recently, I’ve felt like a “broken record”. I have shared my feelings and thoughts as well as what God has been teaching me and yet, I know that I hold back. There is part of me that just wants to go on and on, desperate for connection and understanding. But, there is another part of me that knows/thinks/fears that by sharing too much of my feelings, people will get sick of it. Do you know what I mean? I am looking to the Lord for direction. I think that is the best thing to do…to trust Him for what I should and should not write.
Blessings, Joan
Oh Joan, I know what you’re saying. I wonder if sometimes people don’t think ‘we’ve heard your story before so get on with it’. But life can be very difficult and not always so easy to get on with it.
Totally agree with you.
I love how faithful you are Denise to read our posts.
In my current season, I am learning that the more authentic I am the more it ministers to people. I could crawl under a hole and not right until this season passed, but I know that God would have me share so that others know they are not alone. I am so thankful I got to meet you in person my friend!
Yes sometimes it’s easier to be a hermit. But when we focus on others and sharing our story, I do believe it helps us and them.
This is a good post Debbie and a really good question. I do try to “keep it real” and thus reading of my struggles and my thoughts, fears, etc. is a common thing if you read my blog. At the same time I try to walk the line between letting my emotions and struggles show, and yet making sure that the answer I find for ALL of that is there to be seen and heard just as clearly in Jesus. Sometimes I feel I walk a very thin line and I hope that while I never want to present this life as problem free or stress free or worry free, because let’s face it, EVERYONE knows it is not, I still don’t want to be complaining or venting as much as honestly I COULD sometimes, lol. Life is tough. Physically I struggle WAY more then I let on. And yet, the presence of Jesus in my life makes all the difference in the world. LOVED this post!
I love reading you blog Debbie. I especially love how you always come back to Jesus. He is the answer to all of our struggles in this life.
Such a good question,Debbie! I try to be honest,yet keep things private too. My posts are not about me,as much as they are about God. I can express what I have learned through the trial without making it all about me. I have learned this in the last several months from writing here and The Imperfect Wives. I don’t want to bring attention and glory to myself,but to God.
Absolutely, may God get all the glory. Love that reminder.
I tend to like to keep it real because I know there are others out there that may be going through similar situations, that would benefit from knowing that I struggle too. I try to keep a balance, but there are some seasons that are just plain hard and my blog will reflect that, but I want people to know that my hope is in Jesus, no matter what my circumstance may be in any particular moment, my ultimate hope is the eternal hope that I have because of Jesus
How thankful I too am that our hope is in Jesus. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic Maryann.
Loved it Debbie! Not only should we be “real” online but face to face. Often times, we not only mask our pain, but we mask who we really are. If we want to win the lost, we must be genuine and real. There is enough fakes in the world, as bloggers, writers, as Christians – we must take off the masks and be real. As far as speaking about our trials and tribulations … God uses all of it to bring praise and glory to Him. Personally, I have written about some of my struggles, but never to toot my horn but to show what a glorious, loving, miracle making God I serve! Thanks for a good word!
Thank you Debbie for the wonderful devotion. Yes, we need to be real. I sometimes say things that may make others uncomfortable, but I want to be as real and open as I am truly am. We should never mask our pain and hurt.
I know for me there are some things I’m going to post that are more for my benefit (to keep a record of the memory I mean) than for others, but if it blesses someone else then that’s good. I don’t want to post only the hard stuff though and make it seem like I want a pity party. So many today have a victim mentality, and I don’t want to be seen that way either. If that makes sense.
Good post. You always have cute pictures to go with your posts.
Awe, Debbie, this is such a great post. And, I’m with you, I can tell what I want about myself, but when it comes to others, it’s not for me to tell. I prayed long and hard before sharing my journey but I knew the Lord was directing me and the messages and emails I received afterwards confirmed that I was indeed suppose to share.
I do think that there are some matters that are just NOT for sharing and I have stopped reading a few blogs because apparently they felt having a blog entitled them to “tell all.”
I hope that one day we can meet face to face. I just know we would have an immediate connection. Have a great weekend my friend!