A couple of weekends ago, I was going through some personal stuff and on Monday morning I’d scheduled a super positive and motivational Instagram post, but I really wasn’t feeling it. I wasn’t in that happy place because of what I’d experienced that weekend.
On social media, we’re always pulled in by the seemingly perfect lives and pretty pictures, but actually, we have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. So to keep things real, instead of my super positive post I posted about how I wasn’t OK and the importance of feeling the way you feel.
Often, for self-preservation purposes, we get caught up in putting up a front and showing everyone that we’ve got our sh*t together when actually we’re sinking on the inside. A fabulous lady in my Facebook group shared some words of wisdom on how sometimes to deal with negative feelings the only way is through it – so perfectly put, eh!
This resonated with me so much. I’m definitely a cup half full kind of girl and can see the silver lining in every cloud; however simply slipping on your lacy positive pants just won’t do the job. Sometimes the only way through it is to totally immerse yourself in it – deal with it in your own way and come out the other side.
Think about this…
What if showing the raw, vulnerable side of you helps just one person going through the same thing. From personal experience, I’ve learned that sharing something with someone else going through the same thing can really help. Also, I’ve found comfort in some amazing social media posts that are honest, authentic and come from the heart. More often than not, it’s reassuring to know that you’re not alone.
Unfortunately, life isn’t all unicorns and rainbows, sometimes things go wrong and aren’t so perfect. Don’t be ashamed or feel that your feelings are unjustified, be true to yourself. If you need to dwell on these feelings, do it – learn from them and grow.
I hope you can use this post as a little reminder that it’s perfectly normal not to feel OK for a little while. Also, not everything we see on social media is real, people show what they want us to see and that’s fine, but I think for balance we should try to show the real and not so pretty stuff too.
One thing that annoys me about Social Media is how so many people try to build up a fake view of their lives… I’ve just never been able to understand why people don’t just be themselves… and I mean their honest selves.
Me too, I think it’s really important to be yourself rather than act all the time. I guess it’s easy to fall into that trap!
This is a really good read…honesty is deffo the key…thanks for sharing lovely 🙂 x
Thanks Melanie!
You’re absolutely right. As bloggers, we’re definitely prone to putting on a super positive front all the time. It’s something I’ve been trying to be better about. I think our followers would really relate to us being more honest and open about how we’re really feeling.
I completely agree. I used to try and show the positive happy side of me, but I’ve been opening up a little more lately x
I am very guilty of this, even at the moment I am going through a really rough time with various family members which in turn is affecting me health wise. Funnily enough one thing that is causing me not to be in happy land, I was talking with others about yesterday and will be having something coming up soon.
I hope everything is OK with you!
I much prefer people to be real I can’t stand it when a post is trying to engage a certain audience by being a certain way. If people don’t like or are not interested in the real you then so be it don’t be something your not xx
So true! Do be yourself and if people don’t like it there are plenty of other people to follow.
It is so hard to find ‘real people on Social media these days. Everyone has a perfect life, home partner job and so on. It is depressing when you don’t look past their lies
It really is! I think it’s important to remember that what we see is only a snapshot of peoples lives not the whole deal.
You make some great points. I always try to be the real me on all my platforms too 🙂
That’s great Rebecca! 🙂
There is a fine line between aspiration and envy and social media can bring that out in a lot of people so it’s great to add the odd comment about our own struggles to ensure there’s no perfect life conspiracy going on! Not in my house anyway!
Exactly! It’s nice to have that balance.
I truly believe that social media is a lie and that nobody shows their real life through it for the simple reason that nobody wants to read sad things. Social media is our escape by watching nice photos and reading positive things. But that doesn’t mean that the people who post them have that life.
I don’t think it’s necessarily think it’s all a lie, I think sometimes you have to take what you see with a pinch of salt.
There is so much wisdom in this post. Too often people look at other’s social media feeds and start comparing themselves to that perfect looking glimpse of someone’s life, when in reality these people are just putting up a front. Letting yourself be vulnerable and showing the reality that sometimes things are not always so fantastic not only makes you a much more realistic person, you never know when that honesty will help someone in a similar situation.
Absolutely, Sarah! I think you’ve put it so elegantly.
There is a certain social media persona. People can be nicer, be happier and appear to have everything. It’s so unrealistic and depressing to us morals. However i don’t think it’s right to share all the dirty laundry. I’ve been raised by private parents, so feel guilty if tell too much to just about anyone. Anyone can see this! x
Of course, I’m not talking about letting everyone know your personal address or bank details and there are somethings that you have to keep private. However, I do think it’s important to be real on social media and this can be achieved without baring your soul.
I can definitely be guilty of painting a different picture on social media than the one that I’m actually feeling – some platforms like Instagram make you feel like you need to be perfect 100% of the time but I. think it’s important for us to portray real like than a curated one!
I know a youtuber I use to watch when she first started use to lie and make out her life was perfect instead of being honest. she’s now come clean and more people actually respect her now. But she’s defiantly made a bad reputation from not being honest online xo
My instagram is more about experiences than emotions but I do feel with my blog especially that I want to talk about the things we suffer with too so people know they’re not alone x
I think I am me – myself – on social media. i’m still dorkey, weird and shy on places like Facebook and Instagram. Even on Twitter. I do agree we do sometime put a front to other but with me it very much what you see is what you get. xx
I find your reminder of “it’s perfectly normal to not feel okay” truly comforting. And it’s really important because the media has a big impact on people. As we show who we really are on the internet, it also helps others feel comfortable with what they are.
What you see on my social media is me. I haven’t got time to find the perfect locations for the perfect shot. I work full time and have a house and three cats plus a mister to look after x
Well put I used to put on a brave face all the time and pretend I was ok when I wasn’t and it made me feel worse. Now though I am open about when I am feeling crap and it helps me feel better. So so sorry to hear that you are going through some personal stuff. I really hope your ok xx
This post is fantastic! I believe I am totally honest on my social media including my blog. If I review something, I tell the truth. I’ve also talked about my mental health, and issues that I have faced. My photos aren’t always perfect and certainly not flawless. But I am me and that’s the way I am going to stay x
It’s so hard to make a decision on whether to show your real self on social media or to just take a step away. I don’t think either are wrong and I think you have to make the right decision for you. but like you say – it might actually help someone by showing all sides of your iife x
Social media is now a platform for every thing. Some intends to post what they like so this is subjective. But I guess being true is what we all need. We may be up on different circumstances but lets always face it with a brave and positive heart.
i always believe that you should be your true self. we all have our bad days and i don’t usually portray it on social media. maybe the odd here and there, just not spurt out the actual details. i think this shows people were all humans