Social media has become so ingrained in everyday life that many of us have developed the habit of sharing moments’ in our lives with others’.
On the surface, this does not seem like a problem; however, many of us, it seems, have become more intent on sharing rather than actually taking the time to enjoy those particular moments.
For example, if you go to any modern day restaurant, chances are, you will observe people taking pictures of their food to share on Instagram or you will observe a group of people at a table staring at their phones so intently that it would seem their very lives are hanging in the balance.
With social media, the user is in control. Meaning, you have the paintbrush, so to speak, and you can paint a picture of your choosing. Unfortunately, this creates a false image of perpetual happiness or progress.
An example would be my ex-girlfriend getting jealous after she would see pictures of other couples. She would observe one snapshot and make inferences about their “perfect” relationship. Granted, the couple in the picture goes through rough patches just like everyone else; however, the pictures on social media, sometimes, engender feelings of envy or jealousy.
Social media captures snapshots of life rather than the whole experience; as a result, people, sometimes unwittingly, begin comparing their lives with their friends, peers and acquaintances. Some people become depressed or upset because they feel their peers are surpassing them even though the aforementioned group goes through struggles just like everyone else.
I, too, have been guilty of this. In order to motivate myself, I often think of all of the people who have doubted me. After I achieve something others said I could not, I have a tendency to share it on social media rather than just having the plain satisfaction of proving them wrong. I would post progress pictures from the gym and motivational quotes.
One of my favorite rappers, Immortal Technique, once rapped, “Because even though we survived through the struggle that made us; we still look at ourselves through the eyes of people that hate us.” I feel this is an apt description of behavior that has become all too common especially with the immersion of social media in our lives. Many of us have become so concerned with proving ourselves or showcasing our relative progress that we forget the real reason we’re doing something.
Social media is not all bad; it has given me a reliable medium to keep in touch with my Army buddies, old friends and family members. However, I think it is paramount to one’s true happiness and success to make an effort to enjoy the moments in our lives rather than always trying to share them with others.
I did not always see it this way but I have learned, more so in the last year, that life is a journey and there will be fluctuations; moreover, you will be ahead at times and you will be going through rough patches at other times. Nobody’s life is perfect and the most we can learn to do is live, learn and adapt.
