Imagine a life without hobbies. I can't.

Hobbies are often thought of as activities for people who lead quiet, relaxed lives. However, people with full, busy, even stressful lives may need hobbies more than the average person, and benefit greatly from having hobbies in their lives. Hobbies bring many benefits that usually make them more than worth the time they require, according to stress management expert Elizabeth Scott.

I have a few hobbies, but none of them have changed my life or brought me as much satisfaction as blogging. In almost too many ways to count, it has changed me and the way I live my life.

In fact, I love blogging so much that I regularly recommend it to others. I started blogging because writing in a journal wasn't very appealing. But somewhere along the line, my journaling became less about me writing the story and more about the story changing me.

I started blogging, "unofficially," on MySpace (Remember it?) as a hobby. Now it's a vital part of my professional portfolio. I write on personal development, leadership, finance, relationships, inspiration and motivation.

On occasion, I write about stuff that doesn't fit neatly into one of these categories. My goal is to create insightful, relevant content that you can put to work in your personal and professional life. If you are in a position of leadership—or aspire to be—then this blog is for you.

I wonder if Jesus would have blogged. Can you imagine the sheer size of His subscriber list?

Now let's hit the pause button, and I'll share the top 10 reasons why I decided to "professionally" blog:

1. I want to be a good steward of God's ideas. God has given me so much. He has taught me so much. I would be wrong not to pass along what I've learned that might be able to help others. My blog is one way I "take my thoughts captive" (2 Cor. 10:5).

2. Too often we remember what we should forget and forget what we should remember. My blog helps me remember what God doesn't want me to forget.

3. Blogging is therapeutic. It helps me process thoughts and emotions. I believe blogging will make me a better leader. It will make me accountable. It will keep me humble. Just as preaching keeps the preacher always learning, blogging will keep me on the learning edge of leadership.

4. Habakkuk 2:2 says, "Write down the revelation." Blogging is one way I write down what God is revealing to me. Blogging makes me write better. If you strip away the layers, all writing is communication. It allows me to take the thoughts in my head and record them on paper. Consequently, my writing improves with practice.

5. Blogging is a form of digital discipleship. I can't disciple a thousand people one on one or face to face. Blogging is asynchronous discipleship. It's evangelism.

6. Blogging is marking my trail with breadcrumbs like Hansel and Gretel did. Jeremiah 31:21 says, "Set up road marks, place guideposts. Set your heart toward the highway."

7. I blog for my children's children. My grandkids will know what I was doing and thinking on Jan. 14, 2016. They'll be able to know my heart and read my mind.

8. Blogging is a form of autobiography. It helps me understand God's storyline for my life.

9. Blogging makes my church an open-source church. For better or for worse, my blog is the way I share what we're doing in my congregation.

10. Blogging allows me to inspire others. My personal mission is helping people get from here to there. I help people define their "there" and help develop a plan to get there. Since my blog is open to the public, someone may be inspired by a post, which helps them get from here to there.  

This article originally appeared at cestowers.com.

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