In a world where we collect followers and likes…

Teach them that it’s a highlight reel, simply a highlight reel. Do not compare your real life with their “reel life”. Nobody can match up to somebody’s .003% of “picture perfect” moments that they happened to take 9 different shots of in 9 different angles and chose the BEST looking picture of their guacamole.

Teach them that a collection of instantly gratifying moments will not result in permanent joy. It will result in depending on instantly gratifying moments like a drug. That will not fill up your cup. That will leave it emptier with each pour of false fulfillment. Joy is found within — not within a collective result of fleeting moments. Those moments are just that -- fleeting.

Teach them that telling the world “you woke up like this” after choosing three different filters and softening the lighting will not result in higher self-esteem. It will result in depending on others to tell you that you’re beautiful or a “smoke show” or… {insert newest cool word} with lots of filtering. You are beautiful without all of that.

Teach them that the number of followers they have or the likes their photo gets does not even touch the surface of defining who they are. Their being is not narrowed down to a filtered collection of picture-perfect moments. It includes the messy too — you know, that the other side of being human. Hiding behind reel life to feel good about real life will never result in real joy.

Teach them that social media is a tool to connect. We can laugh at stories, pray for loved ones, pray for strangers, support others, get excited about joys and triumphs and connect with loved ones on social media. Those are all good things — but let’s not compare everyday life with a spotless newly IKEA furnished home where all family members are passing bread and butter down their dinner table at 6 pm — because life is beautiful, but not flawless.