Is The Grass Really Greener On The Other Side?
March 2016 Insights
Most of you all know I have two teenage children, so as I am sure many of you can relate to, I am in constant competition with the allure of social media for their attention. Their cell phones and laptops seem to have become an appendage to their bodies, rarely other than when these items need to be recharged do I see them without them. Conversations about how many “likes” they received or how many followers they have, comes up often. Understandably, they know of no other world that existed before Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and the infamous #hashtag becoming an everyday household symbol. Social media is a way of life for them and now us and on some level I understand the value it provides, however, what I find unfortunate and a bit disturbing is how all these social media feeds breed what I refer to as “the grass is seemingly greener on the other side” syndrome.
Unfortunately, despite the benefits of today’s world being so “connected” to everyone and everything with the tip of our fingers, there seems to be a common tendency to fall prey to idealizing other’s realities in comparison to our own. Have you ever logged off social media feeling “less than” when you logged on? Well, if you answered yes, you’re not alone, social feeds offer us countless opportunities to glamorize small moments of times in people’s lives that doesn’t necessarily depict the reality of an entire life. While pretty pictures and fun loving posts can motivate us to want more for ourselves, too much time on social media feeds can also backfire, undermining our self-confidence as we compare ourselves-consciously or unconsciously-with unrealistic ideals.
I don’t want to be a downer, I too am suspect to the allure of Facebook from time to time and certainly from a business perspective can see what a great “free” marketing tool it can be as well as a fast, fun, accessible way to communicate with others. However, all I am suggesting in this month’s post is to cultivate some healthy skepticism in order to keep a natural tendency to compare yourself to others at bay. In whatever way you choose to use social media, keep tabs on how those interactions may make you feel. Do you leave certain sites or streams feeling motivated and energized, or drained, anxious, and inadequate? Even when sites make you feel great, just know external sources of motivation or affirmation can be short lived. For long sustainable outcomes, it’s up to us to internally generate a sense of accomplishment and pride in our lives. And most importantly always remember…the grass isn’t necessarily greener on the other side!
Alway Wishing You Well
-Holly-