Perceived Reality Bites

I’m a Southern California gal that followed her heart and career path to NYC, almost fifteen years ago. Like many before me, I was seduced by the city’s energy and proud, unbreakable spirit. I was experiencing a lot of newness at the time. A new city, a new job, new friends, new lifestyle and a new way of staying in touch with family and friends, near and far in real-time through social media.  

Fast forward to 2019, social media morphed into an evolving entity well beyond staying in touch. It became a platform for entrepreneurs and politicians, activist, support groups and hobbyists to share ideas and so much more. Social media became its own reality. In recent years, it cultivated a culture of portraying an alternate perfect life instead of snapshots of real life moments. 

There was something disingenuous about genuine moments. Was everyone living their best life? And what about the ones that weren’t living their best life at the moment, the ones that went silent? 

Living your best life is a choice. And tough seasons happen to everyone. One person’s best year might be another person’s worst one. And for those going through a challenging season, social media can feel like the devil, flaunting someone else’s seemingly perfect life while you’re barely treading water. If you’re in that boat and social is triggering feelings of jealousy, envy or resentment, then it’s time for a break from social media while you do the work it takes to find your footing again.  

Pull inward and focus on you. Don’t compare your life to anyone else’s. Comparison guarantees misery and you’re too good for that. We all have a destiny to fulfill and lessons to learn and life to experience. Don’t miss out on your life because you’re too busy begrudging someone his or her happiness. Be genuinely and wholeheartedly happy for them. It doesn’t take anything away from you.

Tough seasons have a beginning and an end. Instead of waiting out the bad days until they pass, embrace them. Shift your perspective to allow for messages to come through about what you need to change, learn or be open to when the bad days are behind you. Repurpose scrolling time for meditation and journaling. Figure out what makes you happy. Only you knows the answer to this. You might surprise yourself by what you learn about yourself or the situation you’re in by creating quiet space. 

I’m a power user of social media. I use multiple platforms to engage with my readers and even for me, I’m careful about what content I consume. Content that lacks authenticity is draining for me so I’m unapologetically selective about whom I follow and you should too. Personal energy space is sacred, be thoughtful about who you let in. For me, tough times are a sign to self-reflect and pay attention to changes around me. I honor this time by shutting out outside noise and I ramp up my gratitude. You’ll be amazed by the mental shift that happens when your day begins with gratitude instead of a complaint. Even the triggers become insignificant as the focus shifts to abundance and not scarcity. Try it for a week and be prepared for a healthier and happier perspective.