After trolling celebrities online (I mean browsing through social media…) do you ever end up feeling a bit down, almost as if you are lacking something in your life?
Sometimes, after seeing your “go-to” celeb wearing the latest item, or traveling to some exotic location once again, or seeing how trim and fit they are looking, you can’t help but feel down – almost as if you have been cheated on by life itself.
IS IT SOCIAL MEDIA’S FAULT?
We live in a world where social media has become engaging, exciting, and easily accessible. Let’s be honest: it’s all slightly addictive. Celebrities use social media as a means of marketing themselves, and to market brands. Therefore we can’t help but notice how “so and so” looks, and what “so and so” is wearing. For the most part it becomes a sales and marketing exercise, and it works – because we are left thinking about it , if not longing for it.
But can we blame the power and influence of social media for making us feel a certain way about ourselves? Or do we have a wrong impression or understanding of our self-worth and value? Because if we truly understood our self-worth and value, we wouldn’t struggle with our self-esteem. We wouldn’t let what others are doing online make us feel like we are lacking in some way.
IS SOCIAL MEDIA REAL?
Social media can be a great source of inspiration, especially when people are creating amazing things that we can draw from. However, for the most part, social media does not reflect the truth. Sometimes pictures are posed; some are purely used as a marketing tool, and others are photoshopped. Not everything that we see online is authentic. We need to be able to decipher that.
DOES SOCIAL MEDIA HAVE POWER OVER US?
Social media does not have the power to control us or influence our emotions, unless we allow it to! That means you have the control and power to unfollow certain brands or celebrities, especially if they influence the way you feel about yourself. Be intentional about following people and things online that are encouraging and inspiring you in your day-to-day life.
IS SOCIAL MEDIA TIME CONSUMING?
How many hours per day do we waste on the trolling of celebrities online? We become a little bit obsessed with certain celebs, to the point where our identity starts to lie in what they are saying and doing. Sometimes we need to put our phones down, or give social media a break for a while, especially if it’s becoming all-consuming.
KNOW YOUR WORTH
Sometimes, our secret social media obsessions become a major distraction in our lives. If we allow ourselves to get caught up in social media, it will eventually shape us and define us negatively, and it will most certainly cause us to forget our sense of self-worth.
I love this verse in the Bible:
I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful.
Psalm 139 : 14
You, my dear friend, have been made in the image of a creative God, who lovingly designed your innermost being! You are one of a kind – celebrate that; own that!
Now don’t get me wrong: I love social media, and I think it can be something we can enjoy. We should just keep a watchful eye out for when it steals our joy, or when it starts to make us feel down about ourselves.
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