I don’t have the most curated feed on Facebook. My profile hasn’t been updated in the longest time. And I usually just use Facebook to check out inspirational and philosophical videos. Or simply just check out cute dog or cat videos. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I recently got into Instagram a few months ago. But I literally have 10 followers on this social media platform as of this moment. As you can see, I’m not the biggest social media influencer in the world. And I try not to compare my mundane ordinary everyday life to the highlight sizzle reels that I see people post on their social media feed. That’s just not sustainable.
It’s important that we not draw into the trap of comparing our lives to what we see on social media – whether it be Instagram, Facebook, WeChat, or whatever. Just live our own lives. Be our own person. Be your authentic and true selves, and don’t worry about how cool you look on the social media feeds.
It’s easier said than done. And I do realize that many people do want to showcase their best lives on social media. About that promotion. About that new boyfriend or girlfriend. About their awesome friends that they have by their side. And that is all fine. More power to them. There is no law preventing people from showing their best lives on social media.
It’s just that we sometimes need to take a step back and not get drawn into being obsessed with looking perfect. That’s just not sustainable. Not everyone will feel their best 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There will be bumps and bruises throughout life. Even within the span of 24 hours. Sometimes, you will feel very happy and joyful and at peace. Other times, you will feel down and out and constricted. That’s just a part of the waves that come and go throughout our lives.
For me, I typically just use Instagram to check out inspirational quotes and videos from a few of my Toastmaster friends. I appreciate those positive vibes that I get from seeing those videos. And it makes me feel grateful that some people do use social media to lift other people up. Not just simply post their best lives on social media for the sake of it.
I think social media can be a double-edged sword. It is well known for its toxicity, especially its negative influence on young people and teens. But, if social media is used correctly, it can be an important tool to spread positivity and joy throughout the world at a rapid speed. So, it really depends on how you use it.
And there really is no wrong or right way. If you want to post your best life on Facebook, go right ahead. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. If you want to post silly cat and dog videos, go for it. If you want to post inspirational philosophical videos, then more power to it. Do what you want to do. It’s your life. So just try your best to enjoy it.
Just don’t carried away too much in the glitz and glamour of it all. Not everyone is living happily at every single moment in life. The world is truly imperfect. There are people out there struggling with poverty, with hunger, with disease, with financial difficulties. The problems are endless in this world. And it’s important to know that many people are not living the life that they portray on social media.
It’s important to know that not everything is what they seem. And no one’s life is as perfect as it looks in public. Everyone has a dark side – or at least some vulnerabilities and flaws that they’re afraid to share with the world. It’s not easy being openly and completely transparent.
For me, I used to post lengthy articles on my Facebook feed many years ago to serve as inspiration. I hope it helped for what it’s worth. And it was just a way of experimenting with the powers and potential of social media. Since then, I haven’t really updated my profile that much.
But I do keep in touch with many of my friends on Facebook. And I do wish them well and are happy for them when they post happy pictures of their families, their weddings, or their hangout sessions. I think it’s important not to be jealous of someone else’s good fortune. And to wish them well as a whole. And it’s important to simply be happy for the other side.
So, again, social media can be toxic if used incorrectly. But it also has the power to contribute real value to the world. Through inspiration. Through philosophy. Through simple pleasures like comic strips and cat videos. It does have the power to spread knowledge and information at a rapid pace. So, it just really depends on how you decide to use this tool that we’ve been given in the 21st century.
The power really is in your own hands.
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