I think that as a society, we rely too much on social media for our approval. Yes, I know I am posting this to social media and I will probably check my phone every 15-20 seconds to see who has liked this. It's how our brains have been conditioned to act.
I feel that approval should come from God. Paul writes in the book of Galatians, "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
You may disagree, but it's my truth. You can't take that away from me.
Social media is especially hard when a certain person likes and/or comments on our posts. The certain person being someone who we have social media envy towrads. The person that is always taking perfect selfies, has pinterest-worthy photo shoots/parties, the person who seems to be followed by a professional photography crew. We envy their ability to look amazing on social media when perhaps in real life, they don't look as perfect as they seem. It seems they seem to get over 200 likes on a photo posted over an hour ago when you barely get eleven likes on yours.
It seems that we generate the value of the content we post based on how people react to it. It's nothing new, it's always been that way. Regardless or not of social media, we are always trying to seek approval from other humans.
We judge ourselves based on the social media presence of others. We judge our entire life, the good and the bad, on a highlight reel of someone else's story. We only post the good parts because who wants to hear about our crappy day? I know I don't. However, I'm as raw as an onion and I don't have a filter. Both have gotten me in trouble and I've lost people in my life due to that honesty. If someone is upset with what I say, I am constantly beating myself up about the fact that I shouldn't have said something.
If we have something to say, we have to sugar coat it to meet the needs of our easily offended society. I wish people would just tell me the truth right to my face. I'm going to cry and get upset, but the difference now is I have the truth. I'd rather be upset with the truth than comforted by a lie.
I am the worst at taking criticism or advice from people. I know my truth and to hear from someone else who may have good intentions telling me that what I may be doing isn't the greatest idea is disheartening. Like I said, they may have good intentions but sometimes people just like to tell others what they think the other person should be doing.
I have gotten a lot of positive responses from sharing my story on my blog. I've also gotten some flack from people. It hurts to get that flack, because I am telling my honest-to-God truth. There are people out there who may not believe that I am speaking from the heart, but I have had to learn that those people's opinions won't and don't matter in the long run. I know who I am and who I want to be. No one can change that.
I feel that approval should come from God. Paul writes in the book of Galatians, "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
You may disagree, but it's my truth. You can't take that away from me.
Social media is especially hard when a certain person likes and/or comments on our posts. The certain person being someone who we have social media envy towrads. The person that is always taking perfect selfies, has pinterest-worthy photo shoots/parties, the person who seems to be followed by a professional photography crew. We envy their ability to look amazing on social media when perhaps in real life, they don't look as perfect as they seem. It seems they seem to get over 200 likes on a photo posted over an hour ago when you barely get eleven likes on yours.
It seems that we generate the value of the content we post based on how people react to it. It's nothing new, it's always been that way. Regardless or not of social media, we are always trying to seek approval from other humans.
We judge ourselves based on the social media presence of others. We judge our entire life, the good and the bad, on a highlight reel of someone else's story. We only post the good parts because who wants to hear about our crappy day? I know I don't. However, I'm as raw as an onion and I don't have a filter. Both have gotten me in trouble and I've lost people in my life due to that honesty. If someone is upset with what I say, I am constantly beating myself up about the fact that I shouldn't have said something.
If we have something to say, we have to sugar coat it to meet the needs of our easily offended society. I wish people would just tell me the truth right to my face. I'm going to cry and get upset, but the difference now is I have the truth. I'd rather be upset with the truth than comforted by a lie.
I am the worst at taking criticism or advice from people. I know my truth and to hear from someone else who may have good intentions telling me that what I may be doing isn't the greatest idea is disheartening. Like I said, they may have good intentions but sometimes people just like to tell others what they think the other person should be doing.
I have gotten a lot of positive responses from sharing my story on my blog. I've also gotten some flack from people. It hurts to get that flack, because I am telling my honest-to-God truth. There are people out there who may not believe that I am speaking from the heart, but I have had to learn that those people's opinions won't and don't matter in the long run. I know who I am and who I want to be. No one can change that.