Thriving on impulses has become the backbone of our modern-day society. We impulsively buy, impulsively do, and impulsively speak. Most of us tend to put our feet up and blame social media for these habits when in reality, we simply became prey to the fleeting pleasures instant gratification gives us.

Social media has become a mode of comparison for most people today. We see snapshots of people’s lives that convince us how lavish their lives are, which makes us feel like we aren’t living up to the bar. We feel like we have to do everything everyone is doing in order for us to raise our status and experience some distorted version of happiness. It also works the other way; we feel like posting the highlights of our lives will make us feel more loved, rewarding us with the validation we so badly crave.

What most of us fail to realize, however, is the fact that social media is not an accurate reflection of any of our lives. It is a false perception of how people live and embeds an idea of a certain status they must reach in order to reach ultimate fulfillment. What we don’t realize is that we only see what people want us to see. We are unaware of any trials and tribulations they face. What people advertise about their lives can affect us in ways without us even realizing it. Seeing people post about their travel adventures and materialistic goods subconsciously makes us envy and covet, making us oblivious to the fact that what is shown is not actually what is. We lose sight of who we really are because we spend so much time being consumed in everything that we are not.

The things you do, the items you own, and the places you go do not define who you are. We are incredibly caught up in the idea that certain incomes, occupations, and titles define us and are reflective of our self-worth. We are so infatuated with the instantaneous fulfillment that tangible, worldly items provide us with that we become blind to the eternal gratification that simply being a good human being gives us.

We chase after fleeting things because of the feelings they give us instantly, which results in an endless cycle of us craving more and more. What would happen if one day everything disappeared? What would we do? What would we be left with? That’s right, nothing.

Money, status, titles, and followers do not define who we are, and we cannot get in the habit of defining ourselves in the wrong ways. When we realize the flaws in our thinking and that we are not defined by false perceptions, we are able to reach eternal gratification and focus on what makes a good human being. Being the best and most genuine versions of ourselves is what will remain embedded in people’s minds forever. You were made for a reason, and upon finding your purpose, the sky is the limit, and your legacy will live on forever.