Is Social Media Ruining Your Self-esteem?
If you are using social media to drive traffic to your blogs you are probably being bombarded with images of beautiful young people doing live video and posting images of their beautiful selves doing beautiful things and making a bucket load of cash.
I am going to call it … this can get down right demoralising even to the most motivated of entrepreneurs!
You start to second guess yourself.
Do people want to hear about a middle aged, middle class woman’s trials and success online? Do they want to see a slightly frazzled overworked Mum struggling to get through each day?
I know some of you are feeling this, because I have been too and I can’t be the only one.
So this is as much for me as for you ... STOP IT!
I’m here to tell you they do want to hear from you! And even better than that there are more of us than “them”.
People want to connect with people they can relate too. It’s as simple as that. You have a uniqueness that is all yours and you should embrace it and show it to the world.
I know I say it regularly but if you are not using social media to drive traffic you are missing out on a quick source of leads for your offers … BUT don’t get caught up in the success stories and beautiful images of yachts and mansions you will see.
We all know most of it is staged, and the success stories are not overnight successes, they took time and effort it's just they don't elaborate on that bit.
Now I’m not saying fill your feed with negativity, ain’t no one gunna want to read that!
BUT it’s OK to post an image of yourself without your makeup and hair perfectly done or a post saying “you know what … that didn’t work but now I know and I’ll do it differently next time”.
Don’t beat yourself up because you are not a young, pretty thing bouncing around Acapulco in your bikini, you didn't just buy a Ferrari, or you are not making the sort of income YET that you aspire too.
To the ladies ... stop comparing yourself to the Marie Forleo’s and Amy Porterhouses’ of the online world.
YOU DO YOU and share your gifts and unique insight to life and business with the world.
I reckon you’ll be surprised at just how relatable you are to the majority of people.
Are you posting images of yourself on social media? Are you feeling those little niggling thoughts that chip away at your self-esteem?
Love to hear your thoughts on social media and self-esteem.
Recent Comments
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Now that I think of it, I don't even remember seeing any, looks like I've already mentally blocked it out. So much of it is fake and photoshopped anyway.
Having the kind of self confidence that allows us to be happy in our own skins is the kind that will take us all the way.
Great post Heidy.
Absolutely Twack, I think maybe it's my introvert side that keeps me seeing them LOL, not that I shall let it stop me!
Great tips Heidi. Thanks for sharing.
Social media is like the weather. Just because the sun is out blazing elsewhere does not mean that the drizzle where you are should dampen your spirits. Some people are actually out there looking to hear how you pick yourself up when the weather's trying to dampen your spirits.
We are Blessed.
Mark
Absolutely Mark, it's not all beer and skittles as they say, and showing your authenticity definitely builds the know, like, trust factor.
Great post again HeidiY.
It is not easy seeing those perfect images and perfect settings from the plethora of social media. I am amazed at how people constantly are trying to be someone other than themselves and striving to reach a goal that is not possible to reach no matter what.
I agree with Neil that social media is one of the worst things that has happened since they where introduced on the Internet, due to the way people misuse these tools.
I will just say that content is King, be yourself, and be honest no matter how hard that is. Everyone needs to learn to accept and love themselves as the person they are in order to do the same to other people.
- Roy -
Exactly Roy, thank you for your comment, so much of it is photoshopped and all just smoke and mirrors, we must see through it and connect with those who are authentic and on our wave length.
Many people do get caught up in the whole social media circus Heidi and actually believe those snippets/posts are someones real life.
I read an article on how just one picture was staged and arranged, it took over 2 hours to make it look oh so natural, but most are just a con. It is not real life and no one goes around in inches thick make up all the time. Well not if they have any sense anyway, very bad for their skin.
My younger daughter was studying the psychology of it a few years ago. She found it fascinating, yet concerning that people got so wrapped up in it.
Those with low self esteem yearn to be like those they see but as its not real they cannot and it lowers that self esteem further.
I stick with it as a business tool, I find it a waste of time to spend hours gazing at things I don't want or need. I literally cannot understand how people have so much time they can waste it scrolling endlessly.
Absolutely agree Linda, I only use it as a business tool. I friend people who provide value to me, and whos posts I want to see. If they don't feel trustworthy I'm pretty quick on the unfriend button LOL.
I have lots of followers from my crafting days, especially on Twitter. I find that the more diverse the followers, the more you get seen.
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You are right on. I am of an age where I don't care what people think about the way I look. That's not what is important, but the information I put in my websites is important. They can look at that, not me. I'll just go on being who I am.
Love this Fran, I think we should all be "of an age" where we don't give a fig about what others think of our looks. Being true to ourselves is such a joy, once you master it.