Social Media Has Made Us Risk-Averse (and we need to change that)
If you’re reading this, it’s probably on a social media platform.
What started as a means of sharing what we’re up to is now a means of public relations with everyone who follows us. We keep risky takes within ourselves and share what could win approval of the crowd.
I’m aware some of you are nodding your heads in disagreement saying “No, I don’t care what other people think. I’m a rebel”. That might be true but that’s a fairly small count of people. The issue isn’t entirely on what you share, but how people respond to it.
Control The Narrative, Don’t Be Controlled
People are always watching us. Social media is designed to emphasize ‘views’ and ‘reads’ to let us know how many eyes are on us. Bigger the count, greater the risk of criticism because everyone is a keyboard warrior in the comfort of their homes.
This criticism drives many to curate what they share and keep the rest within themselves. You’re controlled by your audience whether you know it or not.
We Need To Change This. How?
1. Spend More Time Alone
We spend so much time online, it might do some good to reduce the endless stimulation we receive. We’re bound to have more ideas when we think in silence or go for a walk. Unless we want to conform with others, we’re going to silence ourselves — and that’s a disservice.
2. Leverage Curation And The Algorithm
Social media asks you what you like, but you can also tell it what you don’t find interesting. Unfollow toxic people and don’t feel compelled to believe everything you read.
3. Use What You See FOR You, Not Against You
Comparison is the thief of joy, and the induction of misery. Inspiration on the other hand gets you going. When you flip the narrative, things work for you, not against you.
“You just learn to stop thinking about what they think. You’ll never do original work if you can’t.” ― Ryan Holiday
This post first appeared on rainarangelo.com
