Perception vs Reality: Social Media Lies

This topic has been discussed soo many times on the internet and in the mainstream media. We all know how deceiving social media is and how it might make someone look extremely happy but doesn't show that they're actually crying themselves to sleep every night.

But this isn't what I want to talk about in this blog post. It's been talked about before and it's something we all realized by now (or I'd hope so anyway). What I do want to do, is tell you about a situation I experienced first hand. Why? I don't think we realize how often this really happens or the severity of the problem until it occurs to us that it's something that we've probably all witnessed at some point!

The Instagram account of one of my close friends consisted of travel pictures, videos from dance rehearsals and beautifully presented dishes. Every week, she'd upload a photo of herself looking flawless in a beautiful destination. This led me to the belief that she was pursuing her dreams; traveling the world and doing what she loves most - dancing. She seemed happy and I was convinced that this was HER year, but I got a huge surprise when I spoke to her after a couple of months (that's a prime example of a long-term, low-maintenance adult friendship for you).

I found out that her perfect Instagram profile was hiding a recent break-up, a long-term illness of a loved one and rejection from her dream college course.

I would've never guessed it. I was also under the impression that she was traveling a lot but this girl hasn't left the country in months and what I was seeing all this time were old throwback photos.

Social media can be extremely deceiving. Check on your friends to make sure they're okay. A perfect image online does not necessarily reflect reality. Pay attention to what your friends' post - do these posts make it seem like they have the perfect life? What's really hiding behind them?

Paula

Comments

Why seeking validation from others will only harm your self worth & how to stop

We all have insecurities and we all look for validation from others whether we'd like to admit it or not. It often starts in our early life when we feel the need to fulfil the expectations imposed on us by our parents. Later, it escalates into seeking approval of our physical appearance and behaviour by our peers and partners and eventually, the need to appeal to our colleagues & superiors at work might also come into play. This search for validation becomes addictive and we quickly develop a need for more. But what's really scary about this is the fact that we're letting other people take control over how we feel about ourselves by allowing them to define whether we are attractive enough or smart enough. This is beyond wrong, I mean, how can we value the opinion of others above our own?! Moreover, constantly seeking validation makes receiving disapproval a very painful experience and stops us from moving forward and aiming for our goals. Ultima...

''When you go back home''

I am not one to be easily offended. In fact, I think that we've all become very aware. Every joke and every comment we make is carefully curated, positioned in a way that has absolutely no potential to be taken as deragatory by whoever we're speaking to. Political correctness or not, I love how awake the society has become through all of this. The empathy that emanates from some of us when speaking to someone coming from a minority group, or experiencing difficulties that we will never go through ourselves. But I can't help feeling hurt when assumptions are made. It bothers me when someone assumes how I feel, who I am or where I seem to belong. It stings, when someone asks me when I last visited ''home'' after 15 years of being an expat. Because truth to be told, I have no ''home'' in my native country. HERE is my home. Here is where I belong, where a piece of me will stay even if I choose to move somewhere else in the future. The slightes...

Find your inner child, and learn from them

Our level of responsibility increases as we grow older. We change, inside and out, develop new relationships and focus on the future. Future education, jobs, relationships, maybe buying a house. That's all well and good, we have to keep growing, learning, progressing....that's human nature. But while we try to find our feet in this new stage of life, let's not forget about the inner child. It's that priceless part of you that is absolutely unique, raw, and selfless. As per the Oxford Dictionary, the term 'inner child' refers to ''a person's supposed original or true self, especially when regarded as concealed in adulthood.'' Why connecting with your inner child is important - 2 key benefits: 1. Becoming more curious, motivated, and energized... The inner child and its curiosity, creativity, and zest for life are uncanny. The sad part? We tend to lose a lot of these traits as we grow older. Reconnecting with the inner child allows for the...

The inspiration journal

Search This Blog