It would be safe to say that the lines of virtual reality and reality have blurred in today’s world. 2020 set the stage for the VIRTUAL WORLD to become an integral part of our REAL WORLD. From online classes, museum tours, date rooms and even medical consults, you name it everything was made available without ever having to leave the comfort of our homes. Social Media platforms have existed for a while but the usage of social media platforms has increased globally at an increasing rate since 2015. According to social media statistics available online, as of April 2020, there are 3.8 billion users that are active on social Media with Facebook leading the stats in terms of active users each day. Being Online is a huge part of everyone’s life, whether you are 13 or 63, we are deriving substantial amount of information from online media, wanted or unwanted.
Social Media has become a way of LIFE, part of daily routine for most people and the very reason why it needs to be looked through the microscope of WELLNESS.
IT HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS A BEAM OF BALANCE FOR INNER WELLNESS.
IT IS A REALM OF ESCAPISM WHEREIN ESCAPE IS CONDITIONAL.
While we are all thankful for increased connectivity, instant gratification and awareness, for its boons Social Media also brings along with it a dichotomy; escapism, detachment, masking and sometimes catalyzing a sense of hopelessness. There is no such thing as “new” anymore, we live in the age of “now” wherein lies the brilliance of social media as the inner wellness beam. It forces its users to live in the “NOW” moment internally, while indulging them in escapism externally. We live in a culture wherein “ likes” and “ followers” determine popularity and likability and what is not seen is not recognized or acknowledged even more so than before. Social media makes it equally easy to be invisible .
THE REAL VS THE VIRTUAL YOU? ARE WE HOW WE VIEW ACCOUNTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
People are more prone to be honest in a detached way while talking to a person on social media than in real life. Inhabitations are easy to indulge, Saying how it is to blankly staring at a woman/man to finding your tribe, Social media makes it slightly easier to be “us” in many ways . It affords us control and indulgence without ever having to step out of the comfort zone. We control how we are perceived to a certain degree while hiding all that is uncomfortable within us.
Triggers are the true benefits of social media, it allows us a deeper understanding of ourselves without having to go through actual experiences
A quick survey of social media users will acknowledge that what they view on accounts is not a reflection of complete reality however that does not stop them from getting triggered. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we get influenced by what we see. We then create patterns of sub-conscious behaviors and or thought processes that cause us to showcase our inner imbalance. Some examples are:
a) Indulging in comparisons
b) Keeping up appearances
c) Self-worth displacement
d) Masking
So how does one maintain Inner Peace if triggered?
For one, follow us on our social media account @the.one.platform for a daily dose of Wellness OR become a member of our True Wellness Program available at www.theoneplatform.org.
For those who choose not to go the above route, a few simple tricks to maintaining Inner Peace when it comes to social media influence.
Take a break from social media at least once a week. No browsing, no posting.
Turn the trigger into Inspiration.
Remember there is only One of You and it is perfectly A-OKAY to be YOU.
Social Media “LIKES” do not equate to Success OR Happiness.
Have a diverse online viewing portfolio.
People’s perceptions are not your problems.
Happy and safe browsing ahead to all.