There has been a lot of talk recently about how social media creates unrealistic expectations amongst teenagers. Imperfections are magnified when everyone around you seems to have a perfect body or a perfect complexion or an affluent lifestyle.
I’ve noticed that social media usage affects me as well, though not in those areas. I’ve recently become aware of a growing issue in my life that I can only attribute to my social media usage. I’ve increasingly been living a life of fear. I am living in fear of failure where one small mistake at work or on social media or in my social life will lead to catastrophic failure. More and more I’m just trying to avoid missteps or mistakes in order to reach in illusory “finish line” aka retirement
Because I am a conservative/libertarian Christian in a world that appears to be increasingly liberal/libertine/authoritarian and secular I feel out of place. Biblically speaking that was foretold. The problem is that I have been increasingly fearful to actually live my life fully. Instead of growing I feel as if I’m shrinking or withdrawing. Instead of relishing personal interactions I’m more likely to want to shy away from them.
A large part of my problem is I’m not a part of a church community. I’m neither lending support to nor receiving support a religious community. I’m also not taking time to feed myself. My mental, spiritual and emotional diet has been as unhealthy as my physical diet. A constant diet of politics an social media will not nourish me the same way scripture would. The challenge is to make the changes I know I have to make (and thus my need for supportive community.)