I write for a lot of reasons. Self expression is the least of them.

Let’s talk about why I write and do what I do.

 

1. To share ideas

Everyday a bunch of ideas walk by the insides of my brain, get naked, and have sex with each other.

That’s why I have so many ideas in the first place.

Each idea is the offspring of many others mixing together to create something new and fresh.

 

Writing gives me the opportunity to share those ideas.

If you fill a cup with too much water it spills over.

Ideas are the same. Writing helps me pour out the ideas bubbling up in my head so I can share it with people like you.

Leading to my next point…

 

2. To inspire the right people

I’m only one person. So there are only so many people I can inspire based on my own life experiences.

I love hearing comments like: “you changed the way I see things” or “that made my day” – this is what I live for as a writer.

If I’m not inspiring anyone, let alone the right person who needs it – then what am I doing?

Writing should be inspirational.

 

3. To make people think

What’s the point in buying a book if by the time you’ve finished it – it doesn’t even make you think? I feel the same way about writing in general.

The point of self-expression is to make people see things from a new light. Not just to get lost in your own selfish thoughts and desires that writing gives you.

If you’re not affected by someone’s writing, even if in a small way, then it’s meaningless.

Related: Things That Inspire Me Everyday

 

4. To share my experiences

I bottled everything up inside. Then I put a padlock on my feelings, locked it, and threw away the key so no one could find it. ?

But that’s no fun. That’s not the best way to live your life.

I was a kid back then. Insecurity was my worst enemy.  That’s why I was driven to burn personal photos of myself to Ash.

Now they’re lost forever.

 

Keeping secrets is hard work

Writing gives me the superpower of sharing my experiences, without feeling alienated, awkward or weird about doing it.

Freedom gives you power. And the freedom to share your experiences (without fear of judgement) is a reflection of that power.

That’s what freedom is about.

 

5. The freedom to teach people

I’ve fucked up in life. So many times.

Like when I trusted PayPal, even though they decided to freeze my account and withhold over £10,000 cash.

Just because my income accelerated in such a short space of time.

Or like how being made redundant changed me for the better, and I’ve been happily unemployed ever since.

 

Teaching is an opportunity to change people’s lives

And there’s no greater feeling than helping someone avoid the same mistakes I did.

So they can succeed faster than I ever could have.

Relevant: When I Was 15 A Man Told Me Something I’ll Never Forget

 

6. Because it’s fun

What’s the point of life if it’s not any fun?

I always get a kick out of trying something new when I write.

Fun is defined as something enjoyable, pleasing, interesting or entertaining.

The opposite of that is: boring, bland, lifeless and miserable.

I write because it’s fun. Or else I wouldn’t bother, because a “not so fun” life is a sad way to live.

 

7. It’s an addiction

When you smoke crack, you get addicted pretty fast. That’s obvious to any normal human being.

But not all addictions are created equal.

When you love something that’s positive like writing, it’s more of an obsession than an addiction.

I’m compelled to write. It’s my most natural way of expressing myself.

 

8. To document my journey

Nobody’s gonna document my journey the way I know best. So if anyone’s gonna record my life, it may as well be me.

Why? Because I have full control over my destiny.

The only reliable way to document the journey is to document it yourself.

Nobody else can do it in a way that’s true to you and the things you want out of life.

And besides – leaving it to others will lead to hidden agendas, and your life won’t be portrayed in a way that’s 100% genuine.

 

9. To learn more about myself (and the world)

Writing is weird. Depending on what I’m writing about – I learn something new about myself.

I’ll use words I didn’t know was a part of my mental dictionary.

I’ll say things that surprise me. I’ll discover things I never would have known otherwise (through research, etc).

Writing is an exercise in self-awareness.

The more I write, the more aware I become of who I am and what I want out of life.

And it’s a reminder of what I think about. Writing clarifies your thoughts and beliefs.

 

10. It helps me meet new people (and connect)

Believe it or not – but I’m part of a weekly business mastermind I started in 2015.

Guess how it started? I wrote an article about wanting to start a mastermind group!

Some guys reached out and sent me an email. Apparently, they were looking for a “mastermind” group to join themselves.

I even made other connections because of it down the line.

Some of those people are coaches, writers, marketers and everything in between.

 

And that’s not even the best part

The best part is the warm emails I get that makes my heart explode with gratitude and appreciation.

The types of emails that remind me of why I write, what it means to me, and the power I have to make a difference when expressing myself.

 

11. To experiment and try new things

I know this sounds weird. I’m weird anyway, so that’s nothing new.

But sometimes I write to experiment and try new things.

I might write from a new perspective or point of view.

Or write the headline in the opposite style I usually stick to.

Or I’ll say something different to see what kind of reaction I’ll get out of it.

That’s the beauty of data. I can look at statistics and compare the differences.

That helps to keep things fresh and dynamic, and that fits with the kind of person I am.

I hate it when something is too “mundane” or conventional.

 

12. To promote myself, a product or business

“Without promotion, something TERRIBLE happens… nothing!” – P.T Barnum

That’s right – and I say that with NO shame whatsoever.

Why should I be ashamed of that? I write to promote myself, share my thoughts, market my websites or promote something I’m selling.

No writer should feel ashamed of this.

I have tons of respect for writers, bloggers and business owners who use “writing” as a means to sell, promote a product, market their online business or make money off “ads”.

I feel the same way about writers who self publish books, or publish sponsored posts for “relevant” companies.

In the end – you’ve gotta get paid.

Anyone who tells you differently has an agenda or has NO respect for you in the slightest.

Read: The Most Damaging Beliefs I Was Taught About Money

 

13. To get the “bullshit” out of my system

Life comes with its own set of challenges, like a video game.

Sometimes it’s like playing on easy mode. But there are times when it feels like you’re playing on “insane” mode, and bottling it all up is never good in the long run.

So to “exhale” the BS, I write. I get it out of my system.

• Problems.
• Challenges.
• Thoughts.
• Stress.
• Annoyances.

It doesn’t matter what it is, there’s always something you need to flush out your system.

Writing is one way that helps me “cleanse” the system by flushing out my thoughts. 

 

14. To gain new ideas

Writing is weird. Just by doing it – new ideas pop into your head.

It doesn’t make sense, because writing is an expression of what’s already in your mind.

But the magic of writing clarifies your thoughts, gives you new insights and helps you to see things from a new perspective.

I use what I’ve written in the past to inspire new ideas for the present AND the future.

It’s a strange process. And I’m sure other writers can relate to it.

 

15. To share my accomplishments (or failures)

I’ve been rated a top 100 personal development blogger dozens of times.

Especially since 2016.

I’ve shared it here on theojellis.com before. And on the internet in general.

I reached out to the Huffington Post during that time, and even though Ariana Huffington replied to my email, and claimed her assistant would “get back to me” – nothing ever happened.

I failed to become a contributor on the Huffington Post. For reasons, I’ll never know.

 

Writing gives me the power to share that

And so – that’s what I do. I share what’s working, and what didn’t.

Because I learn something just by sharing it, and you can learn something just by reading it.

 

16. To stand up for what I believe in

I believe the school system is full of shit. It’s basically a factory designed to turn your average person into a “robot”.

You leave school, get an education, work 9-5, pay the bills and that’s the end of it. You die a horrible death after living a horrible life well below your potential.

That’s why so many people are depressed, and living unfulfilled lifestyles.

Another thing that pisses me off about the school system is: they turn a blind eye to bullying.

It’s so bad, 100’s of thousands of kids avoid school every day to escape the living nightmare of being bullied, just because they’re different.

I stand by my beliefs, and I’ll never waiver on that

That’s why I write. To promote those beliefs. And share what I feel is right (or wrong) about how the world works.

And why it matters.

 

17. To make a difference

“I never said to be like me, I say be yourself and make a difference.” Marilyn Manson

After all, is said and done – I want to make a difference and leave a legacy worth remembering.

Legacy matters to me. Writing is one way to pave the way forward.

What is a legacy? It’s how you’re remembered after you die.

• Albert Einstein is remembered as “a genius”.
• 2Pac is remembered as “one of the greatest rappers of ALL time”.
• Muhammad Ali is known as “the greatest boxer of all time” or at least the top 3.
• Michael Jackson is known as “one of the BEST singers of all time”.

 

That’s what legacy is about

The thought of dying and resting in a coffin… And having no one remember you for anything other than “wow he’s dead? That’s sad” seems like a waste of a life to me.

I know an old woman who died a few years ago, in the area where I grew up.

1 week after she died – no one said anything.

Isn’t that sad?

If you’re not remembered for anything, you’re a ghost.

What was the point of being alive if nothing you did made a difference or made you known for something worth remembering?

That’s how I see it.

 

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