REMEMBER LIFE BEFORE SOCIAL MEDIA?

Just kidding, but social media really has transformed our society and the way we interact and communicate with one another. And while there are so many INCREDIBLE aspects, it’s no secret that social media apps are breeding grounds for insecurity, doubt and comparison.

But if social media is here to stay, that means we need to take extra care to ensure that comparison and negativity know they’re not welcome to follow us. Block, report, delete — you name it! A few mental mindset shifts can make a world of difference in how you feel about yourself and others. I’ve been caught in the comparison cycle too many times and I don’t want any of you to stay there.

BE THE LIGHT OF THE PARTY

Often times, we seek to be the life of the party. Or in this case, the most popular one on social media. As humans, we naturally crave affirmation, and it’s easy to turn to numbers of likes, followers and comments as a way to fulfill that desire. What if we used social media as a platform to encourage, instead of only to get encouragement for ourselves? Every time you have a thought of negativity toward yourself on social media, stop it and turn it upside down. “No one is affirming me” can turn into “How can I make her day? What can I do to encourage the people that follow me?” Instead of trying to be the life of the party, let’s all try to be A LIGHT instead.

EMBRACE LIFE ONLINE

Social Media is so fun! But it also can be really draining. It is important to make sure that you spend an equal amount of time offline as you do scrolling through social media feeds. Try picking up a “secret” hobby, one you’ll never post about or share on stories. It’s incredibly freeing to do or try something and know that’s it’s 100% for you. No one will be able to leave comments, negative feedback or criticism. Embracing life offline allows you to fully appreciate the beauty of social media, without it impacting everything you do in your day to day life.

GAIN INSPIRATION, NOT COMPARISON

Each day as I scroll through my social media feeds, I’m amazed by all the talent and creativity I see. It’s exciting to see friends climb corporate ladders, get married and go on exotic vacations. And I love that social media allows me to connect with incredible, creative women from all over the world that I otherwise would never get to know. Instead of dwelling on negativity and comparison, it’s important to focus on the beautiful things social media has to offer. Allow what you see online to inspire you to keep hustling in real life. Inspiration can come from all different sources and social media has huge potential to inspire you and push you to keep creating!

What do you think would change if we were as intentional about not being drawn into negativity as we are about how are feed looks?
I bet the world, both online and real life, would be a far more positive, joyful place.