Three Things I've Learned From Blogging

I've been blogging for three and a half years now (cray) and while there's still a lot I want to accomplish I've come to learn a lot from the blog world. Blogging is such a huge part of who I am now. My head is a constant stream of outfits I want to put together, social media tactics I want to try, blogs I'm inspired by, and unfortunately jealousy and comparison, but we'll get to that later. It's hard to remember a time when I wasn't blogging. I know that may sound strange since in the scheme of things three and a half years isn't that many. However, I feel like I've really come into myself through blogging. Which leads me to the first thing I've learned:

1. I am a creative person. Pre-blog I never would have classified myself as a "creative." That was always my sister, and for some reason I thought I couldn't be creative because I wasn't interested in the traditional channels like drawing, painting, and music. Now, though, I've realized that blogging allows me to be creative, and I cherish that. That constant stream of outfits I want to try putting together, that is creativity to me. Outfit planning is without a doubt my favorite part of blogging. I like being forced to look at clothes in a new way and now I'll take a second look at a piece I may have ignored a few years ago. 

2. Putting yourself out there on the internet is terrifying. I think I've said this before, but the internet is a scary place. When I see the awful things that women are saying to other (very popular) bloggers I can't believe my eyes. I'll never understand why someone thinks they can say hurtful things just because it's the internet. Thankfully I haven't had to deal with much negativity surrounding my blog yet, but that day may come. 

Having a blog, especially one where you constantly post pictures of yourself, feels very narcissistic, which may be hard to come to terms with. Taking outfit pictures in public is downright awkward, but it's just kind of normal to me now. Slowly but surely I'm becoming less and less concerned with what the people biking by while I take pictures think. And that is a very freeing feeling. I think that mindset has transferred over into my everyday life too. I wear what I want now. California is a very casual place, but most of the time I just say F it and wear heels anyway because they make me happy. Moral of the story here is that if putting yourself out there is what's keeping you from doing anything, be it starting your own blog or asking for a promotion, it's never as bad as you think and it gets easier the more you do it!

3. Comparison really is the thief of joy. Who hasn't scrolled through Instagram and thought, "Damn, why isn't my life that beautiful?" Or even "How does she have more followers than me?" Yep. Guilty. Comparison, I've found, can bring out a girl that I don't want to be. This is one that I'm still struggling with, but I'm actively trying to get better at not making comparisons. One thing I heard and that I try to keep in mind is that you can't compare your beginning to someone else's middle or end. You don't know where other people are in their journeys and you can really only focus on yourself and the things you can control. When I find myself making comparisons, I try to ask myself "What is it about myself that's really bothering me?" That's usually the reason I make comparisons, and it helps to address those issues instead of lashing out against someone else. 

If you have a blog, what do you think is the biggest thing blogging has taught you?

xo Catherine