It seems that today’s world sends us lots of inspirational messages about being your best. These messages are great. In fact, these messages get more engagement on social media than any other type with one exception. Statistics show that topics that stir outrage are more likely to be shared than a topic that makes people feel good.
Guilty as charged! I hit Facebook first thing every morning. It is as necessary to my psyche as a cup of Joe is to others. I feel a need to see what I missed after 9 pm each evening. I can count on a few good friends to provide me with quirky laughter, but I also check out a few business pages that are really good at bringing me feel good stuff to start my day.
It hasn’t always been that way. There was a time when I was sucked into the dark manholes of social media. Somehow navigating to the shared blogs that spoke of outrageous grievances or news stories that exposed the heinous savagery of world events drew my first attentions. Over time I began to feel a gloomy haze over my days. I actually did not even see it coming, or realize that it had seeped into my pores. I became at least 10% less happy over time.
A day came one morning when I just felt too tired to check Facebook. The same was true the next day, and then the third as well. At that point my days began to noticeably feel a little lighter. The fourth day I felt well enough to wade into the looming waters of Facebook, but I made a conscious decision to take 30 days off from social media of any kind.
I allowed myself to read articles and blogs on the internet without engaging. Rather than reading what everyone said I should read, I deliberately sought out information that I was truly interested in. I found that I was drawn to the uplifting, quirky, funny, beautiful, and individually truthful sharings. I found myself again. The real self that spoke to who I truly am, not who others told me I should be, was just below the surface.
Unknowingly this journey was about finding a better ME. The less stressed, happier, more productive, and fulfilled ME was the reward of my 30 day respite. However, I missed my quirky friends and the pages that brought me charming stories with uplifting graphics. With a better sense of ME it was now okay to go back into the shark infested waters of social media. This time there was a conscious awareness of avoiding the negative and focusing on those things that fed the better ME.
This small experiment permeated my life. I began to approach other aspects with the same conscious awareness of how my body, mind, and spirit were impacted by my activities. I have taken a closer look at the movies, TV shows, and books I choose. There is consideration for how these things really make me feel and, when I am feeling that way, how my body and spirit respond. A better ME is a journey.
Here is an invitation to this conscious awareness movement. The only person you are required to R.S.V.P to is yourself. Do not have an attitude of saving the date, just in case you do not have anything else better to do that day. The best thing you could do every day is save the date to invest in a better you.
P.S. My top three Facebook pages that just make me feel good:
1) Yarn Obsession – I love to crochet, but Sedie Maruska offers so much more than just an obsession with yarn. Her amazing spirit pours onto every part of everything she does. She is a true mentor in becoming a better ME.
2) Social Boom with Kim Garst – Kim offers spectacularly concise, insightful advice for improving the social media experience for businesses. She also has a kind heart and intentional purpose to share herself with everyone. She is also a true mentor in becoming a better ME.
3) Living off the Grid – What can I say? I am an elf at heart. The blissful sharings of quirky homes and inventive gardens uplift my heart. It is hard to resist a 30 second dreamy moment of living amongst the trees in the ultimate natural environment.
Guilty as charged! I hit Facebook first thing every morning. It is as necessary to my psyche as a cup of Joe is to others. I feel a need to see what I missed after 9 pm each evening. I can count on a few good friends to provide me with quirky laughter, but I also check out a few business pages that are really good at bringing me feel good stuff to start my day.
It hasn’t always been that way. There was a time when I was sucked into the dark manholes of social media. Somehow navigating to the shared blogs that spoke of outrageous grievances or news stories that exposed the heinous savagery of world events drew my first attentions. Over time I began to feel a gloomy haze over my days. I actually did not even see it coming, or realize that it had seeped into my pores. I became at least 10% less happy over time.
A day came one morning when I just felt too tired to check Facebook. The same was true the next day, and then the third as well. At that point my days began to noticeably feel a little lighter. The fourth day I felt well enough to wade into the looming waters of Facebook, but I made a conscious decision to take 30 days off from social media of any kind.
I allowed myself to read articles and blogs on the internet without engaging. Rather than reading what everyone said I should read, I deliberately sought out information that I was truly interested in. I found that I was drawn to the uplifting, quirky, funny, beautiful, and individually truthful sharings. I found myself again. The real self that spoke to who I truly am, not who others told me I should be, was just below the surface.
Unknowingly this journey was about finding a better ME. The less stressed, happier, more productive, and fulfilled ME was the reward of my 30 day respite. However, I missed my quirky friends and the pages that brought me charming stories with uplifting graphics. With a better sense of ME it was now okay to go back into the shark infested waters of social media. This time there was a conscious awareness of avoiding the negative and focusing on those things that fed the better ME.
This small experiment permeated my life. I began to approach other aspects with the same conscious awareness of how my body, mind, and spirit were impacted by my activities. I have taken a closer look at the movies, TV shows, and books I choose. There is consideration for how these things really make me feel and, when I am feeling that way, how my body and spirit respond. A better ME is a journey.
Here is an invitation to this conscious awareness movement. The only person you are required to R.S.V.P to is yourself. Do not have an attitude of saving the date, just in case you do not have anything else better to do that day. The best thing you could do every day is save the date to invest in a better you.
P.S. My top three Facebook pages that just make me feel good:
1) Yarn Obsession – I love to crochet, but Sedie Maruska offers so much more than just an obsession with yarn. Her amazing spirit pours onto every part of everything she does. She is a true mentor in becoming a better ME.
2) Social Boom with Kim Garst – Kim offers spectacularly concise, insightful advice for improving the social media experience for businesses. She also has a kind heart and intentional purpose to share herself with everyone. She is also a true mentor in becoming a better ME.
3) Living off the Grid – What can I say? I am an elf at heart. The blissful sharings of quirky homes and inventive gardens uplift my heart. It is hard to resist a 30 second dreamy moment of living amongst the trees in the ultimate natural environment.