How do we know what success looks like? What does it feel like? Is success something tangible (money), or a state of being (happiness)? For me, success can sometimes feel like trying to hit a moving target at a carnival game. It’s loud, it’s stressful, and it seems to be laughing at me. The more the target moves, the more anxious I feel and the less accurate I am.
What makes our target move?
Social media has become an incredible platform for connection and communication with the world around us. It can be a fun way to show our friends and loved ones:
- our latest adventures (Fun!)
- tasty desserts (Delicious!)
- cat videos (Hilarious!)
On the other hand, when we’re not feeling good about ourselves, social media can feed into a voice inside that says “everyone else has it all figured out.”
We begin to compare our inner-struggles, insecurities, and inadequacies (blooper reels) with other people’s highlight reels!
When fear sets in, we begin to see other people’s happiness and successes as proof of our failures. The story we tell ourselves sounds like this:
“I’m not enough. I’m not doing enough, working enough, working out enough, working hard enough, etc.”
Then we reach in our pockets, pull out our phones, and start scrolling. My Achilles-heel is images of freelance bloggers on yoga retreats doing a handstands on beaches. These images have now become tangible proof of my laziness, lack of success, and general lack of upper body strength.
When it comes to comparing yourself to others, you are NOT alone. Stay tuned for Part 2 of the this blog, where we’ll take this conversation deeper and start exploring solutions!
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