The Danger of Social Media Envy
Many of us can relate to that uncomfortable feeling that social media can bring.
As we scroll through our LinkedIn or Facebook feed, everyone appears to be winning awards, hosting well-attended events, or carrying out great feats.
Suddenly, in contrast, our own career or business seem uneventful and unsuccessful.
It is easy to descend into comparison and envy, especially when all we see is these seemingly perfect moments.
I’ve fallen into this trap from time-to-time. Many of us have.
But it is important to remember that these moments are a partial or incomplete picture of someone’s life. We don’t see all the challenges that someone overcame to win that award. It likely took years of concentrated effort. Success doesn’t happen overnight.
On the other end of the spectrum, it can be helpful to remember that social media is curated too.
This is a reminder I often need and one I received not long ago.
A friend of mine recently posted about an event she hosted. It looked well attended and highly successful. I was happy for her. But when I next saw her, and congratulated her on her success, I was a bit confused by her response.
She laughed and confessed that while the event went smoothly, only a few people attended. However, she was hoping to attract more people next year, so she chose pictures to highlight the positive elements of the event, instead of telling the entire story.
I had to smile. I had recently been feeling that I wasn’t doing enough or accomplishing enough, compared to others’ social media feeds. This conversation was a timely reminder that social media is telling a story. A curated story. And one that I shouldn’t compare myself to.
It also reminded me that I’m on my own journey, not someone else’s, and it is unhelpful to compare myself to others.
By indulging in the stories social media tells, we all can be pulled away from our present realities, our contentment and our own goals. I am no different.
Instead, I need to focus my attention on my business’ strategic plan and our growth goals. We spend a lot of time and effort figuring them out. Staying the course and adjusting when necessary is key. Comparing myself to others, is not.
As a challenge this week, think about your journey and goals. Have you taken the time to strategically plan your growth? Do you have a clear vision of where you’re heading? Or are you using comparison or reactionary, short-term decisions to determine your next steps?
If you haven't taken the time to thoughtfully plan your next 3-12 months, I encourage you to do so.
If you need help with that, we do have strategic planning resources available, as well as our FREE 30-minute consultations. We are here to help.
