As a teenage girl myself, the expectations and pressures of social media are all too familiar. I know what it's like to post a picture on Instagram and await the likes, anxiously hoping the total creeps up. The feeling of changing your profile picture on Facebook and awaiting the comments that somehow determine your self worth resonates with me. I get it. You might be thinking, Indi, that's all well and good, but how do we overcome these feelings? If I knew the answer, I'd have a best-selling book out on shelves and be a millionaire in my mere teenage years. Truth be told, I am still working on it. There are a few things that I do know to be certain, however. Firstly, a number has no significance in representing your self worth. You cannot compare years' worth of life to some digits. If you logically think about this for a moment, you will understand what I am trying to express. How can a number tell a story that has been going on since the day you were born? A number has nothing on words, much less actions. If you can grasp that, you are on your way to breaking the hold that social media seems to have on on us. The second point I want to make is a little harsher, but rings every bit as true. When you add a photo to any social media outlet, the number of people that look at that picture and genuinely care is not that high. Your true friends and family will take a real interest, but a lot of your followers will scroll through it, perhaps double tap, but will not view it with any significance. If you don't believe me, look at it this way: if the photos you posted were printed out and you could show them to anyone you pleased, more than half of your "followers" would never make the list. Why? Because you realise they wouldn't care enough to appreciate the messages behind the flicks. The same applies to the online reality around us. The final point I can make right now is to never lose sight of what is real. The things you see online are not guaranteed to be real, but the things you see outside and the people you interact with face to face, they always are. We as a society are losing sight of everyday beauty; the allure of nature, the wisdom of spoken words and the magic of our instinctual abilities to read facial expressions are almost lost to us. Do not get me wrong in thinking I dislike social media, for I understand the benefits. My issue is when it consumes us and takes away from the value of simple life. You are beautiful inside and out because you are a part of the nature of existence. We live on Earth with millions of species, depending on them for survival. As humans, we are only a small spec in a greater picture. In the scheme of things, those comments and likes mean nothing. The little things, the things that are tangible, they mean everything. My friends, we are on this planet for a reason, and that reason is definitely not to find a sense of approval in numbers that come from people we do not truly know. Do not allow yourself to be disillusioned by the realms of social media and let it take over the way you feel about yourself. So long as you are alive, you are beautiful. Just existing in itself is a sacred thing that has so many layers of complexity that make it a valiant feat. Life is beautiful, so if you are living it, then so are you.
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Positive Thoughts, Positive Life
Spirituelles"This year, keep it simple. Happiness is what we seek most." If you're feeling down and seeking inspiration through words that resonate with you, this book has you covered. In the hectic nature of life, the allure of nature and wisdom of spoken word...
