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 
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)