In the past decade, social media has become a significant part of our lives. With an array of platforms to choose from, we can easily lose ourselves in all the curated content. We often get stuck in the never-ending cycle of comparing ourselves to others online. Sadly, this often leads us to having unrealistic expectations of what our lives should look like. Suffice to say, this is typically detrimental to our mental and emotional wellbeing.
We are constantly bombarded with images of people living the high life, flaunting their perfect bodies, relationships, and lifestyles. Comparing ourselves to the seemingly perfect lives of Instagram models. We must remember that these images are often heavily curated and edited, and are not necessarily reflective of reality. Obsessing over these unrealistic standards can lead to feelings of inadequacy and even depression.
It’s not just Instagram models that feed our unrealistic expectations. Social media influencers, bloggers, and celebrities also portray images of their seemingly perfect lives, leading us to feel like we are missing out on the ideal life if we don’t live like them. This can cause us to fixate on attaining material possessions and zero in on the idea of living up to their lifestyle.
Social media can give us an unrealistic idea of what our relationships should look like. We often see images of couples who seem to be enjoying life to the fullest, which can lead to an unhealthy comparison of our own relationships. We may start to feel like our relationships are not good enough or feel the need to compare our partners to people we see online. This can be damaging to our relationships and our mental health.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that what we see online is not an accurate representation of reality. While social media can be an excellent tool for connecting with others and exploring new ideas, it’s important to remain conscious of the unrealistic standards it can set. We must remind ourselves that our lives are unique and we each have our own paths to follow.
Social media is a tool and it’s up to us to use it in a way that doesn’t harm our mental and emotional wellbeing. It’s crucial to be aware of the unrealistic expectations it can create and to remember that what we see online is not necessarily a reflection of reality. By staying true to our values and avoiding comparisons with others, we can ensure that social media doesn’t detract from our mental and emotional health.
Head photo by @Koolshooters
