Discovering Fandom Benefits: 5 Ways Being a Fan Enriches Life

We are all fans of something. We can be fans of movies, music, TV shows, sports, or anything or anyone under the sun. Some people might say that being a fan could be a waste of time, effort, and money. Unfortunately, there are times when it can be problematic. But, it may surprise people that there are benefits to being a fan and part of a fandom. It can improve a fan’s life and affect their personal growth. As a fan, I am sharing five of the top fandom benefits that have improved my life in this post. Read on to find out if you have experienced the same benefits!

It is easy to brush off being a fan as a wasteful interest because of the time and money that goes into becoming one. Some may even label it as obsessive and frivolous. This is because some fans tend to be delusional and toxic when it comes to what or who they are fans of. While there are segments of any fandom that can be that way, it would be wrong to generalize. You cannot dismiss all fans and place them in a stereotype that does not define the entire world of fandom. There is more to being a fan than that. 

I have grown up seeing the positive and negative aspects of becoming part of a fandom and fan culture. The benefits of being a fan and the experience are part of what has helped me to become the person I am today. Any negative experiences I have had far outweigh what I have gained from it.

Growing up as a fan has given me a perspective on the ways that fandom can help you enrich your life. Here are five ways that being a fan has made my life better through the years:

Self-Discovery

Discovering what I became a fan of helped me to find out more about myself as a person. We find out more about others based on their interests. In the same way, I discovered more about myself through the things and people that I became a fan of. Learning about myself through my interests gave me a better sense of self. It gave me the self-confidence that I use not only as a fan but in my everyday life as well. Being self-aware helps to make daily life better as I know who I am and what works best for me.

When the things you are a fan of change and evolve, it is a self-discovery through fandom. Some fandoms grow with us, but there are also those we grow out of. Fan loyalty is a big deal to some, but it is also healthy to keep yourself open.  It is alright to expand or shift to different fandoms to allow yourself to grow. 

I love it when you grow with the fandoms you are in. But I also appreciate it when the fan experience shifts as you move on to something else. One example is that I have been a fan of certain celebrities and I was once active in certain fandoms.  While my interests have changed, the fellow fans I have made are still very friendly whenever we catch up. It is not a big deal if these interests have changed over time. We still maintained that bond over something we once enjoyed. 

Looking back, I see my growth as a person when I look back on the fandoms I have been in through the years. I appreciate how they all have a part in helping me discover myself and become the person I am today.

Enhance Creativity and Self-Expression

One of the best things that I have seen as a benefit of being part of a fandom is the outpouring of creativity from fans. Fandom and creativity seem to go hand in hand. I have seen so much fan art, fan videos, fan songs, and yes, even fan fiction from fans. These are people who have so much passion for the things that they are fans of. 

Being creative does not only serve as an outlet for self-expression. It also helps each fan to improve these talents that they can use outside of the fandom. I have learned and discovered new creative ideas through being part of a fandom. It is amazing to discover the work that comes from other fans like me. I am inspired and in awe of how many talented people there are out there who are sharing their skills out of love. 

Provides Passion and Motivation 

Being a fan has helped me to learn what it feels like to be enthusiastic about something. Investing time and effort as a fan can be a fulfilling experience. It can help you to expand your horizons to learn more about the things related to what or who you are a fan of. The happiness it brings to be able to enjoy and share the love for something or someone can be a motivating thing. It helps you look forward to every day in the fandom. 

Stress Relief in Fandom

As a fan, having something to help distract you from the negative things in life is a huge comfort. I can’t begin to count the number of times I enjoy hearing an update about the things or people that I love. It helps to lighten my mood when I am having a bad day. I could listen to a good song, watch a good show, or catch an impressive performance to feel good. 

Good news from the fandom can be an excellent way to lift your spirits. It diverts your focus into something more positive when you need it the most. I know people who have become fans of new people or things that have helped them get through tough times. I know because I am one of those people. 

The impact that being a fan can have on a person can be significant. It may not seem like much unless you have gone through it. It also depends on what that person was going through at the time he or she discovered the fandom.

Sense of Community and Connection

Being part of a fan community is something that has a lot of benefits. You could be a fan and not take an active part in the community, but being active in a fandom has its own appeal. It means meeting people from different walks of life. It means exposing yourself to different points of view. These can help you to expand your knowledge and horizons. It also means learning and developing your social skills as you get to know other people. When you’re an active fan, you get to learn to work with others as fans often help each other to support their favorites.

As an introvert, being part of a community has helped me to learn to come out of my shell. The fandom community connection is an amazing thing. It helped me to build significant relationships and connections with other people. There are some fandoms that I have not kept to this day and that's OK. I am still grateful for the friendships built in those fan communities. These are relationships that often outlived my life in the fandom. 

Being a fan is an enjoyable experience. The benefits listed here prove it is also a very rewarding one that can help us become better people. But, like anything else, everything must should be in moderation. It is great to be a fan, but we must remember not to let being one take over or affect our personal lives. I've heard stories of fans who spent too much and took on loans to support their favorite celebrities. They go to concerts and buy fan merchandise to the point of being in debt and unable to afford anything else. I have seen people whose only focus is on being a fan to the detriment of their jobs and personal lives. It is great to be a fan, but you have to draw the line somewhere.

If it makes you happy and inspires you to be a better person, then go ahead and be a fan to your heart’s content. As long as you still know your responsibilities and you are not causing harm to yourself or others, then it’s fine. Get out there and have fun. But be sure to know your limits.

There are more ways that being a fan makes life better that were not mentioned in this post. I would love to know what other people think they are and how they feel about being a fan. If you can think of something else, comment and let me know what I forgot to point out!

Ending this post by sharing a podcast episode about life as a fan and being in a fandom via the Fandesals Podcast. If you understand Tagalog and enjoy Filipino pop culture, this may be worth a listen!