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Social Media: Comparison, Fake Happiness and Unconvincing Ability

Writer's picture: Elizabeth R BillingsleyElizabeth R Billingsley

Hello everyone! 

Today’s post was inspired, if you will, by seeing a post on social media. This particular post was of two supposedly happy people, yet I wonder if they are really happy. The post seemed contrived and as if both of them were working too hard to be convincing. Social media lends itself to an ideal way to look “good” and look happy, without actually being happy. Social media lends itself to allowing one to be fake, which is neither convincing nor happy for the person being fake. With social media, you can create your own world and make it whatever you want it to be, regardless of the truth. 

Why talk about this you ask? We live in a social media obsessed society. I have fallen into the trap myself. I have also been the one smiling on social media with nothing to smile about at all. I faked my way through a 3 year marriage, most of it was abusive, on social media so I know what it’s like to be miserable and use social media to look “fake happy.” I know what it is like to try to convince the world, and myself, that everything is okay when it is definitely not okay. Contrived, fake happiness is neither convincing nor healthy. All I was left with after 3 years was my unconvincing ability to look happy instead of be happy. 

Please don’t misunderstand me. I think social media is a wonderful invention that allows us to connect with people all over the world and to stay in touch with family and friends. I use social media to stay connected to friends and family and to help me with my LLC and writing work. However, I will not use social media to put up a front anymore. I will not use social media to convince people that I am happy. Why? I don’t have to convince people I am happy because I know I am happy. I know I am the real me. I don’t have to worry about what anyone thinks of me anymore. I am done with the opinions of others having anything to do with my life decisions or direction. I will use social media to show the real me, nothing else. What you see, is what you get. I will not use social media to convince the world I am happy in a bad relationship anymore. If the relationship is bad, I will end the relationship to keep my sanity and my happiness. I will not use social media to compare my life to others. Some of the very people we compare ourselves to are some of the most miserable people in reality. They may seem to have a lot of money and have it all together but look closer. I don’t care how many vacations people go on, or how many and what kind of cars they buy, or what their house looks like; we can’t take any of this with us into eternity. Social media is full of these images, look closer. 

My life is unique to me. Your life is unique to you. God did not put me or you on this earth to live anyone else’s life but our own. You can’t compare an apple to an orange but social media can sometimes convince us we can do so. We can’t take any of the things with us after death that social media deems so important; so why do we compare ourselves with ourselves? Ask yourself that question the next time you are browsing social media and say to yourself, “I wish I had that,” or “they seem so happy!” Look closer; contrived, fake happiness and misery may be closer than you think. 

I will leave you today with the words of the apostle Paul to ponder: 

2 Corinthians 10:2; We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. Daring to compare no more, 

Elizabeth  


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