MSMAMACHIC

I’m in the midst of a hiatus from my Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat accounts for at least 30 days.

Recently, I’ve experienced an unrelenting pull to step back, have a good look at my life, and take inventory so to speak, of where my attention is going, what I’m doing, and how and who I’m spending my time and energy.

“Would you want to do the things you do in your life, if you weren’t on social media?”

Someone asked me this question and it stumped me.  Then it freaked me out.  Would I create, or do or highlight half of the things in my life that I do if I knew no one was there to witness any of it?  And how much of what I portray on social media is authentic?

“What matters is what people outside the circle perceive to be happening there.  What matters in not what is real, but what I can convince others is real.  What matters in not how I feel inside, but how I appear to feel on the outside.  How I appear to feel will determine how others feel about me.  What matters is how others feel about me.  So I act like someone who feels Golden.”

–Glennon Doyle “Untamed” 

This quote was referencing what it was like to be part of the popular crowd in high school.  But when I read it I immediately thought that this is what we often do on social media.  We create a persona and an image for the rest of the world so that people can “like”, “follow”, “comment” on the highlights of our lives.  With these “likes”, “follows”, and positive affirmations from others, we gain the validation we need that our lives are valuable.  That we are putting our time and efforts to good use and doing the “right” things.  We forget to check in with our own internal governor to determine whether or not what we feel is truly contentment and happiness or rather the pleasure of confirmation.  It feels good to be told you’re right.  Am I right?! 

What if no one is substantiating my life?

I’ve tried hard to balance authenticity with entertainment throughout my posts and presence on social media but when I’ve been thinking of the next creative thing to post, have I been missing what’s happening in front of me?

Throughout the next month, I’m hoping to see what I’ve been missing with my gaze fixed downward.  

When I’m more engaged with the life I’m living, am I happy with how I’m living, do I enjoy what I do?

And, what do I do when I’m bored or avoiding hard thoughts, decisions and activities if I don’t have a “feed” to distract me, “inspire” me or influence me.

My intent is to engage more, learn more, live more.

Stay tuned…♥️✌🏻🖕🏻

xo,

Jen

#digitaldetox #socialmediasignoff #buhbye #myblogmightgetspicy #staytuned