By Gabrielle Schwartz
Social media can bring so much negativity to how we perceive ourselves. As I scroll through my feed, I know I’m not the only one who can’t help but compare myself to the perfect beach pictures on Instagram. Believe it or not, social media doesn’t have to be a source for insecurities. Here are a few ways to change your thoughts as you scroll through your feed.
You’ve Got the Power
Don’t forget, you can choose who you follow! Fill your feed with accounts that make you happy and don’t put you down. There are accounts filled with positive affirmations, beautiful artwork, and inspiring photography. Maybe an account with funny videos or cute puppy pictures will make you smile. Filling your feed with accounts like these can make you feel better about yourself or even just put a smile on your face. There is no reason to feel obligated to follow accounts that leave you feeling bad about yourself. The first step to eliminating these people is to start by identifying them. What type of accounts make you feel angry or insecure? Once you have identified them, let the unfollowing begin!
Reality Check
Remember that what you see on someone's Instagram isn’t always what it seems. A picture captures one moment of someone’s life, and no one truly knows what’s going on in the person’s life just from their Instagram. These pictures might seem like someone has everything, but that’s just the image they are choosing to put out of themselves. It’s best to feel appreciative of everything you know you have rather than dwell on what you think someone else has. Also, remember that pictures can be edited! With even a simple download of an app people can change their appearance or surroundings. Choose to focus on authentic beauty rather than feel jealous of someone else's altered image.
Turn Jealousy into Positivity
It can be hard to not feel jealous or insecure when scrolling through your feed, but the only way to overcome those judgments are to turn those thoughts into positive ones. For example, maybe you're scrolling through your feed and suddenly you come across a bikini model lounging on a beautiful beach on some deserted island. Scrolling past those pictures can make you feel bad about your body or jealous that you didn’t fly first class to Fiji on Tuesday, but turning those insecurities into acceptance or motivation can make you feel good. Remind yourself that you’re just as beautiful as the person in the picture and that you can be just as fulfilled with your life and yourself as that person can. Remember that you didn’t feel as insecure a minute ago and this picture doesn’t have to change anything about how you view yourself. Disassociate yourself from this image and admire it for that person, rather than hating things about yourself. It’s hard to feel as though you have control over how you feel about certain situations, but this is currently a scenario where you can choose to feel unaffected by someone else’s life. Stop comparing yourself to them. You can only be as amazing as you let yourself be, so why not choose to be amazing?!
Gabrielle Schwartz is an 11th grader at Germantown Friends School.
“For the month of January, my school requires the juniors to participate in an internship, and I chose to intern at The Center for Family Empowerment. Interning here has given me the opportunity to learn so much about psychology. Through research and being immersed in the practice, I have realized the importance of self-empowerment and empowering others.“