My two cents on social media comparison.
Dark Cheetah Jacket | Faux Leather Mini Skirt | Over The Knee Boots | Sunglasses
I made it my New Year’s Resolution to live a more intentional and purposeful life. If I’m being honest, I was getting really bored writing about another outfit with no substance to blogging past that. Now, I still love sharing great fashion finds don’t get me wrong. So I’ll still be posting fashion shots, but I want to share meaningful things alongside them. So yes, these pictures are not a realistic day for me. It sure is fun to get dressed up though!
The other day on one of our many holiday road trips I was listening to Julie Solomon’s Influencer podcast and The Skinny Confidential was the guest. Everything she was saying truly resonated with me. She said she had the opportunity to meet the ultimate girl boss, Bethenny Frankel. She asked her for one single piece of advice and Bethenny told her to, “be like Michael Phelps and stay in your own lane.”
I sat there and thought about that for the rest of the trip. How are you supposed to get to the finish line if you are constantly checking the other swimmers and drifting off into their lane? I’m the first to admit that I struggle in comparing myself to others, and being far too hard on myself at that.
Let’s just be real. Social media is everyone’s “Christmas card pictures.” (Myself included.) It’s not the blooper real. Life happens in between each picture perfect Instagram square.
For me, social media is used as a marketing tool for my blog. It’s also used as inspiration and more as an artistic medium than anything else. I do use Instastories as more of my “reality.”
I’m a mom to two babies. No I am not walking around with a full face of makeup and heels everyday. At any given moment there is baby throw up on my clothes, and there’s a great chance I haven’t had a moment to take a shower in at least three days. That’s reality. And that’s OK!
Fashion has always been a passion of mine. It feels good to get dressed up and put on a cute outfit. It makes me feel like myself and it’s fun. But the pictures that are on social media are simply the ideal. Not the everyday.
Now let’s take a minute to think about what happens when we don’t create our own happiness, but base it off of others. The biggest problem is when it starts to affect your self-esteem or when it causes anxiety or depression. (Anxious to keep up or sad that you don’t feel your life is adequate.) This is when it’s most important to focus on your own lane. Be happy for others when they post something fantastic, but realize behind closed doors they suffer from issues of their own. You never know what someone is going through.
For much of my life I just wanted to fit in. Wanted to feel “cool.” Even with blogging, when I first started I would see several girls posting the same sweater, for instance. I would feel pressure to go get that same sweater with the mind set that it must be selling well and I needed to follow suit to keep up. (Now hey, if you REALLY love that sweater, get the dang sweater.) BUT I’ve learned this is the completely wrong mind set. Who wants to see 10,000 pictures of the same sweater? When the school of fish is all swimming one way, I think that I would rather be the rainbow fish swimming against the stream.
The theme of social media comparison is dangerous. Make an effort to support others without comparing yourself to them. Competition is human nature. It’s great to put your best foot forward (Or best picture…) There’s nothing wrong with that. As long as we keep a healthy mind set and honest approach to how we look at ourselves and others.
This goes hand in hand with my New Year’s Resolution. You can read more about that HERE.
