Why are you cyber stalking your classmate, friend, or sister on Instagram right now? What exactly made you choose your current obsession with that particular celebrity's lifestyle that you're currently trying to replicate?
If you're wondering what governs how you use or abuse social media or where your inspiration comes from to rearrange your entire living space in a reflection of the glamorous lives of A-list celebrities, check out three ways you could be evaluating the psychological effect social media has on users.
Once you know how you're affected, you have the ability to regain control and live your own authentic and beautiful life absent toxic social influences.
1. What made you choose HIS/HER social media account?
The first thing you have to evaluate when trying to understand how social media creates a toxic environment of comparison and competition is knowing exactly what you want and why you're browsing through another person's so-called "perfect life."
We've all heard how social media accounts don't accurately reflect that particular person's lifestyle. Most of the time that "perfect selfie" took at least two hundred times to perfect and about thirty minutes to choose the perfect filter.
Real life isn't like that. So stop trying to replicate a fantasy lifestyle.
2. What do you want in life?
Most of the time, people gravitate towards those who exhibit a desirable lifestyle. Not only is trying to replicate this desirable lifestyle a dangerous move, as #1 explains, social media also allows users to enhance or cherry pick the happiest and perfect moments instead of the realistic ones.
Instead of trying to copy someone else's ideal lifestyle, find that unique something that truly makes you happy and fulfilled. This might mean taking some time to cleanse yourself of social media influences in order to re-discover what makes you uniquely special.
3. It's all about perspective
I can't tell you how many times I've enviously scrolled through my Instagram and Facebook feed at all my peers fun and exciting vacation adventures, academic and work successes, and perfect family portraits.
I always wondered how I could capture that exact picture-perfect moment of happiness that everyone else seemed to be experiencing. Looking back on my own feed and posts, I realized I shared many of those experiences.
I have been blessed with family cruises and portraits, academic accomplishments, and hard work that has successfully paid off. I was so wrapped in everything I didn't have one moment that I missed what was happening before my very eyes.
Don't miss out on the blessings you have or the experiences you are lucky enough to partake in because you've been obsessing over someone else's enhanced and photoshopped life.
The experiences you set out to have and the goals you set out to accomplish should not be decided based on a competitive comparison and try to "keep up with the crowd." You will miss out on the joy and self-fulfillment those experiences were supposed to offer and instead be forever empty and resentful of a life you're trying to replicate for all the wrong reasons.
The only way you will be able to experience joy and happiness is through doing the things that truly make you content.
Make the most of the life you were given and relationships you form by respectively using, not abusing, the power of communication and social media.
