Live A Joyful Life Now

3 ways leaving social media helped me start to heal.

“Go to where you are kindest.” ― Jaron Lanier, Ten Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now

It has been over a year since I last posted anything very personal to my social media accounts.

There came a day last June when my heart broke wide open. My inner being told me to stop and pay attention. I was listening.

I decided to stop posting anything personal to Facebook and Instagram. I felt as though I was living in some other moment and curating my life instead of living it.

For the very first time in a long time, I wanted to know who I was.

It was time to find out.

I did not delete my accounts, but they stand there, frozen in time.

I began to open my heart to the present moment more. It was as if I were engaging with a different world, a world I could create and mold with joy.

When you are no longer living in the future, you change your timeline.

A different set of possibilities reveal themselves to you as you explore this new world.

Here are three things I learned along this journey.

Stop Curating Your Life and Live It:

The further I went down the never-ending tunnel of social media, the more I realized I was curating my life for others.

Instead of being in the moment, I would compose photographs in my mind and wonder about the reactions from others. I was more detached from my life than I thought.

I remember coming home from an event and immediately curating and posting photos from it.

When you crop the photo, use filters on it, and more, you are changing reality. It is only a representation of that moment.

What happened then can only live on in your heart.

How do you feel about curating your life for others?

Take Pictures With Your Mind Instead Of Your Camera:

I still take some pictures for my album or to share one on one with friends in a message.

However, I take fewer photos.

I used to take so many photos and get caught up in that rather than living in the moment.

I would worry about the lighting, the camera angle, my clothing, makeup, and more. It took more energy from me than it gave back to me.

Now I like to take more pictures with my mind. I can capture the moment in my memory that lives on with me.

It is like creating your mind movie, just for you.

I did that yesterday while having tea with a dear friend. We did take a couple of photos, but the rest of the experience I kept as a memory.

How can you create photos and movies in your mind to treasure?

Use Social Media With Intention:

I now use Twitter and Facebook with greater intention.

The only things I post are my News Break local food reviews and Medium articles that I love.

I intend to help local restaurants flourish and help others on Medium grow their writing practice.

I feel this is the place of kindness.

I am no longer saying, “Hey, look at me all the” time.

I do not need to call attention to myself every single day. I can be who I am naturally. People who seek an article to heal their souls will find me.

How can you use social media more intentionally?

Lessons Learned:

Instead of curating your life with perfect photos, live in the moment.

Learn to take pictures with your mind that will live forever.

Use social media with more intention and kindness.

What is your view on using social media? How do you navigate this world? Please share with me in the comments. I believe everyone’s experience is valid and unique to them. I appreciate you!

I leave you with a hilarious video by Bo Burnham about Instagram: