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I read a great post a while back, “Facebook Makes Us Miserable,” by Tim Challies that really got me thinking about the idea of social insecurity. Challies discussed how social media is leading to increased insecurity in America, esp. in women.
It makes me think of this quote I see floating around Facebook (ironically) quite a bit by Pastor Steven Furtick:
“The reason why we struggle with insecurity is we compare our behind the scenes with everyone else’s highlight reel.” – Steven Furtick
Challies sourced some great studies. He also noted,
“We log on to Facebook, look through the photographs and status messages our friends post, and believe that everyone is happier and more successful than we are.” – Challies
Reality check: they’re not. In fact, we often log in and post a little fib or two here and there. We make life look peachy keen, even if it’s everything but. Are you guilty of this? I know I am.
Now, let me be clear, I am not calling my friends liars. Not at all. But over the course of this year, Challies’ post has had me looking at Facebook through an entirely different lens.
The collective “we” does tend to self inflate a bit on Facebook… and if we’re really being honest, life in general, don’t ya think? Not always, of course. But I don’t believe there is a human alive who could say they have never “puffed” themselves up a bit at some point in their life. Facebook or no Facebook. Especially when they are feeling a bit insecure about something. And if you are thinking “I’ve never done that.” Take an honest look at yourself. Please!
When people ask “hey how are you” we often give just the highlights reel, not all the down and dirty details of our life, right? We say we are fine, or just touch the surface of how we are doing – the financial troubles, health worries, insecurities, sorrows, stresses, insert your current issue here are typically not discussed at length. They are saved for just a special few. Why is that?
I have several friends that complain regularly about Facebook “friends” who boast about the 10 gazillion pies they baked in two hours to help feed the starving children in Zimbabwe. I’m embellishing, of course. But don’t you just get annoyed hearing stuff like that? I barely have time to make one pie a year for my family; let alone 10 gazillion for all the starving children in Africa. Talk about making a girl feel insecure or inferior!
Thankfully I don’t know any super bakers. But I think what these ladies sometimes fail to mention is that baking is their stress release, their boredom breaker, sanity maintainer or whatever else it might be. So why don’t they also chat, along with how awesome they are at baking, about what is going on behind the scenes. What led them to the kitchen in the first place?
I believe when super bakers, and the rest of us, fail to dig deep and share what’s going on behind the highlight reel of our lives, we’re leaving out a big part of the picture, don’t ya think?!!! That’s at the heart of the Challies post. I urge you to read it.
From time to time, I decide to disable comments here on my blog. Not because what you have to say doesn’t matter. It does. I love hearing what my friends have to say! But I have been getting a lot of comments on my blog posts, which is encouraging, but also a bit distracting. If there are 60 comments, then I want 80 and so on and so forth. Which is crazy, since I am not writing for blog comments. *Though I sure do like them* I am writing because I’m finally listening. To Him. And listening to what He has called me to do. And at the heart of it all, His opinion is all that matters, right?
Have you been guilty of comparing yourself to other people’s highlights reel? Maybe it is time to log off of Facebook, and get into His book.
