How One Year Off Social Media Changed My Life

What matters to me? Or to you or to anyone else.

It’s something the world is trying to figure out just as fast as we’re running away from what that is for ourselves.

How is it that in a generation of social media we’re able to know so much about other people and know nothing of ourselves? What makes us excited, what irritates us, what are we really good at and really bad at? Everything we know about ourselves seems to be surface level, physical. But when you think about it, it all makes sense. We’re in a constant incessant state of distraction. And the things worth knowing about yourself, the essence of who you are takes more than 30 seconds of reflection to be revealed. It takes you being open, honest, and in tune with yourself. And when do you have time for that when you’re wrapped up in so many things outside of yourself?

You’ll never notice the affect of this particular distraction until you lose your phone, get involved in offline endeavors, or take an uncomfortable amount of time off of social media. I never noticed the magnitude of its impact on my life until I stayed off of it for one year. This was not my first hiatus from social media but the outcome of this experience was unique.

It was like I enjoyed my life more not being attached to a phone trying to take pictures of everywhere I was.

Sometimes you’re memorializing a moment by taking pictures but other times you’re diminishing it to a “like”. When we are fully aware and present in the moment that’s when we make it memorable. You may lose that picture but you’ll never forget how you felt during that experience. It’s the “like” that resonates beyond the page.

Even if you don’t take pictures of everything you do the affect of social media is still the same. Before the hiatus I would occasionally post and scroll through people’s pages taking mental notes like, maybe I should travel where she went. Some posts would make me wonder what my ex was doing or why I don’t have the same experiences as my peers….. And sadly…. it became ok for me to think negative thoughts about people and what they’re doing.

I was checking in on people, places, and things that have no true connection to my life! This caused anxiety, depression, pride, lust, all kinds of emotions that weren’t prominent in my life offline. The posts had my thoughts running wild and since it was a natural progression I didn’t notice how far it was taking me from the core of who I really was. But thank God for leading me to a space where I felt the need to connect with others offline. Taking the hiatus forced me to occupy my time with things that make me happy, grow me, and guide me in the direction I want to go. It’s why my passions in life have become so evident to others as well as myself. I took that time to grow without the inputs of other people working their way into my thoughts and shaping a woman I never wanted to be.

I debated coming back onto social media but I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t be able to describe how it changed me if I didn’t return.

Now I’m back with a purpose. Put plainly, a purpose to be intentional about social media. What do I use it for? Who do I follow? Who is it helping? And since I asked for intentionality God has given me just that, with #thepurgechallenge by GirlCEO and my friends expressing how my social media posts have helped them. Also, most importantly, when I look at my page I feel good about everything that’s there. I feel like it’s authentically me. Now it’s time to create and express myself without a care in the world.

I really wanted to share this because the world is missing something it needs if we aren’t all living to our fullest potential. No one else can define what it means for you to be successful or how you should live your life. It’s hard to figure things out, but it’s beautiful to reflect on each day and have joy. Just how God intended for all of us.

Keep on living, explore any interests you have, be exactly who you were created to be.

To your growth and enlightenment,

The EncourageHer