Social Media & Feeling Inadequate :: My Perspective

Social Media & Feeling Inadequate :: My Perspective

• 2.01.2018

So, I’m having one of those mornings — my toddler has to be right next to me every second of the day and get's super whiny the moment I move to do something productive. My pregnancy emotions seem to have no room for patience either. I feel like a TOTAL mess which is probably why the next thing I’m gonna say might hit chord with some, but hey, when life get's messy, why not make it a tad bit more messy, am I right? 

Over the past week or so, I’ve observed some posts on social media about people feeling inadequate when they see other social media accounts and have felt super depressed about how everyone's life seems perfect compared to theirs. I've seen blogger and influencers rant about how we should try to be more real for their sakes and I agree — but only to an small extent. I’m gonna get some heat / hate for this, but that’s okay because this is me being real which is what everyone has been "advocating" for so here goes... 

If I am to be completely honest then I  have to say that like.. no I LOVE seeing people’s pretty squares on social media because you guys, I have a screaming toddler at home. Let's be 100% transparent -- sometimes I leave the dishes in the sink until 12 am and have to LITERALLY FORCE myself to get up and go wash the leaning tower of dishes before they all come crashing down. I know what a messy house looks like and I don’t need to be reminded that life can get chaotic — BECAUSE GURL I’M JUST PUSHING THROUGH SOME DAYS KICKING AND SCREAMING MYSELF. 

But you know what? THATS 100% OKAY -- it’s life and I know it’s just a day in passing, it’ll get better and the sun will shine again. It has too. I have to remind myself that it’s part of being human and part of falling short of Grace. 

UNPOPULAR OPINION, but if you’re feeling emotions of envy while you’re on Instagram Facebook and Twitter, then maybe you should unfollow those accounts and maybe you should take a step back, but I also think you should really take a good look at your own motives behind those very emotions because more often than not there’s more to it.

I mean, unless you're a robot, you know that every human being has high points and low points, so for some people to complain that they only see "perfect" pictures or to get jealous of what others have sounds like a bigger, more personal problem. 

I think everyone needs to remember that comparison is the thief of joy. Society,  especially today thrives off of feeling of envy, coveting and jealousy -- and if we allow ourselves to be consumed by those things, we miss the joys in life. There is so much to be thankful for when we sit down and actually think about it. We tend to fall in this trap of blaming others because we feel worn out, tired and stressed.

It's so easy to get mad and blame others then actually pinpoint the problem and fix it. So I have a challenge for you -- the next time you're feeling depressed when looking at another person's feed counter those very emotions with positive self care / love actions.

• go have a spa day.
• pick up a journal and write down some over your biggest joys & blessings.
• read your Bible.
• go out for some retail therapy.
• go to the beach.
• phone a friend.
• take a long hot bath, throw a bath bomb in while you’re in there.
• bake some cookies.
• light a candle and put on some music that speaks to you. 
• grab a cup of coffee. 
• mothers and wives -- have your husband take care of the kids for a few hours. 
• go to a park for a walk and then stare at the sky. 
• pick up a new book.
• watch an uplifting movie.
• make a smoothie / milkshake.
• go talk to someone about things that make you happy.

... these are just a few things you can do to combat feelings that are weighing you down. Instead of angrily staring at a screen being frustrated, think about all the things that are going well for you. If you can't think of anything, then hold on friends -- it always rains the hardest before a rainbow appears. Hold on to hope -- it will get better. The sun will shine again and when it does, think about how proud you'll be after enduring such a storm!