RSS Feeds for the Soul

I used to ignore those little orange buttons with a dot and two slanted parentheses. Besides, the words “RSS Feeds” sounded too technical to me.

But when I started blogging actively and reading other people’s blogs too, these handy little buttons became my instant bestfriends.

They did not only save me time, they made my blogging experience so much richer and they proved to be good for my soul too.

This post is divided into two sections: the first one gives a simple explanation of RSS Feeds and subscribing to blogs and the second part is where I share the blogs on my RSS reader that “feed” me.

If you’re a blog expert or you already use a feed reader, you can skip this part.

What is RSS?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. And the simplest way to explain it is: RSS allows you to receive updates from your favorite blogs or information resources as soon as they publish.

If you’re a voracious blog reader, this would be the easiest way to keep up to date.

But it gets better than that when you use a feedreader.

What is a feedreader?

A feed reader is a tool that fetches all the blog and website updates and gathers them neatly for you all in one place.

Think of it like a dog that fetches your morning newspaper.

There more popular feed readers are: Google Reader, Bloglines and Netvibes.

For ease of use and convenience, I suggest you use Google Reader if you already have a Gmail account. According to a survey by Problogger, Google is the top feed reader too.

The good thing about this is you receive information almost in real time but you can read them for later too because Google Reader will just keep them there for you.

Another neat thing about a feed reader is you can organize your feeds into different folders. I like to organize my feeds like these:

Plus, you can place a star next to your favorite blog posts so you can easily retrieve them if you want to read them again.

Why should I subscribe?

1. You get information fast for free.

2. You save time from typing one url after another (only to discover the blogger hasn’t written a new post!)

3. You can access the posts and information you want, anytime you want, all in one place.

How do I subscribe?

There are three ways to subscribe:

1. Click the link “Add Subscription” inside you feedreader and enter the url of the blog or website you want to be subscribed to.

2. When you’re on the blog’s home page, click on the RSS button and it will prompt you to choose what reader you’re using. Most bloggers and websites place them at the top of the page or at a very prominent location. They can come in different colors and shapes now but the symbol remains the same.

You can also subscribe by email and it will work just as well. Most websites provide this option just next to the RSS button.

3. If you’re using Firefox 3, just click on the RSS icon on the web browser and it will prompt you to choose your feed reader.

If you’re a blogger, make sure to subscribe to your own feed and you’ll have an instant archive back up just in case something in your blog goes awry.

The “RSS Feed Stars” in my reader

I have 94 blogs in my feed reader and I continue to add more everyday.

I love reading different kinds of blogs because whether they’re writing about blogging or personal development, each blogger has a wealth of wisdom to share made special by their unique experience.

And somehow, even if you’re actually strangers and thousands of miles away, reading other people’s blogs gives you that feeling of “connectedness.”

When you read about a blogger who writes about his dreams, you feel that someone out there shares the same dreams and aspirations as you have.

When you see that they bravely pursue their passion, you are inspired to pursue your passion knowing that someone has done it.

And when you learn that they’ve achieved their goals, it encourages you to go for success too.

I always turn to my Google Reader for a daily dose of inspiration and motivation.. And whenever I find a blog gem that really shines from among all the items there, I always give it a star.

Here are some of the starred items in my reader that I read again and again:

1. Problogger

• How to find your passion and what you should be blogging about

2. Christine Kane

• 22 Ways to shine your inner bling
• How to be an extreme encourager

3. Put Things Off

• Find your love: Discover your life’s calling today

4. Rock Your Day

• Wake Up, Damn It! You Won’t Get A Second Chance

5. Steve Pavlina

• How to earn your first love dollar
• How to create a fulfilling career
• Money and the Law of Attraction

6. Think Simple Now

• How to motivate yourself to massive action

7. Zenhabits

• Five things you need to know about finding the work you love
• The ultimate guide to motivation: how to achieve any goal

8. Pearsonified

• How to find your creative zen
• How to kiss corporate life goodbye

9. The Positivity Blog

• John Lennon’s Top 3 tips for getting what you want in life

10. Lifehack

• 10 skills you need to succeed at almost anything

Share with me

What do you think? Did any of these spark a light inside you?

If you’ve got a blog or post you want to share, let me know in the comments section below so I can have a look and read.

Remember to keep it relevant and positive.

If you liked this post and you want to share this passion journey with me, feel free to subscribe via my blog’s RSS feed or via email. Just enter your email adds in the form at the sidebar.

I’d be happy to inspire you everyday.

Photo credits: “Got newspaper” by DillonH and RSS icons by Web Fruits