By Jasmine Payne, Licensed Professional Counselor
Social media and technology are intertwined in our day-to-day lives. Many of us have built up profiles, sent and accepted hundreds of friend requests, and followed various pages over the last several years. When was the last time you checked in on all those platforms and cleansed the things that don’t serve you anymore?
Think about it. You have changed as a person over the last year. You have grown, developed new ideas and opinions, disproved previous thought patterns, made new friends, and drifted from old acquaintances. Some of the popular pages or celebrities you followed in 2010 may be in line with the ideals you hold to be true now.
It will take some effort to pull up those friend and follow lists and examine what content you are absorbing. Just as we periodically go through our closets, we must go through our social media feeds. If our feed is filled with toxic people, celebrities attempting to uphold unrealistic/photoshopped standards, or filler accounts that don’t offer anything of substance… think about how that impacts your mentality. If you are only seeing images that are altered, reality loses its appeal.
Step 1 is to identify and unfollow those accounts.
Step 2 is to switch them out.
Follow accounts that show you real life and unfiltered images. Follow inspirational people. Find profiles about things you are interested in and passionate about. Look up accounts that post inspirational, feel-good messages and celebrities that are working to make the world a better place.
You may not notice the toll it takes on your mentality as you scroll through these websites and apps, but if you make these changes in two simple steps you will notice a mindset shift. A relief that not everything has to be perfect all the time. For the most part, social media is a highlight reel or marketing scheme. Take the time to follow accounts that show you the ups as well as the downs of this life. Don’t believe anyone’s account that makes life, love, or family seem effortlessly beautiful because it is not real.
You are what you eat applies to things you ingest visually and mentally.
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About Jasmine Payne:
Jasmine is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She provides services via telehealth and on select days in-person at the Fredericksburg location. She is a two-time graduate of Longwood University, receiving her B.S. in Psychology followed by an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Throughout her professional career, Jasmine has worked with clients who belong to various minority and multicultural populations. Her passion lies in assisting clients through life transitions, conquering anxiety, and finding meaning in their life. She also works with couples and enjoys teaching partners how to use alternative methods of communication and facilitating effective conflict management. Currently, she holds her Level I and II Gottman Training Certifications for Couple’s Counseling. To learn more about Jasmine, visit HERE.