What if we’ve been charting the waters of the vast digital ocean with the wrong map altogether?
I see so many amazing professionals with years of experience taking social media too seriously. This seriousness permeates our online presence, transforming what could be spaces of authentic connection into platforms of performance and perfection. Social media ISN’T JUST about mastering algorithms. If we peel back the layers of what social media truly aims to be, we find its essence: CONNECTION.
Social media, at its core, is about connecting people. It’s a digital gathering place where stories are shared, experiences are exchanged, and relationships are formed and nurtured. It’s about finding your people, sharing your journey, and being part of someone else’s story from miles away. This essence of connection is what makes social media so powerful and pervasive in our lives. The younger generation considers it a natural part of their lives and thrives there without overthinking.
Experienced professionals tend though to overthink. A lot. Myself included. We focus too much on what we lack, not what we have, and fueled by the fear of judgment and the desire for validation, we take our online presence—and, by extension, our lives—too seriously. When you anchor yourself in the belief that you lack sufficient skills, you inadvertently set up barriers to your potential growth.
What if we approached our digital spaces not as stages for performance but as playgrounds for authenticity and playfulness? Imagine approaching social media not as a platform for proving your worth but as a playground for expressing your true self.
I suggest a shift in perspective:
- Engage with genuine curiosity. Ask questions, start conversations, and genuinely connect.
- By all means, learn new skills, but most importantly, use them! The only way to harness these skills is through action. A lot of small, messy, imperfect actions.
- Celebrate the small joys and share them. These moments resonate most deeply and remind others to find joy in their daily lives.
- Laugh at ourselves. Sharing those not-so-perfect moments can be incredibly relatable and disarmingly charming.
- Finally, experiment and explore without the fear of ‘mistakes’. There’s only feedback and endless opportunities for creativity.
The truth is, when we let go of the pressure to be perfect, social media becomes what it was always meant to be—a space of true connection, growth, and fun.
I invite you to change the paradigm from “I don’t have enough social media skills” to “I’m willing to play and enjoy the game.” After all, it’s not about the skills you start with but the mindset you adopt when approaching the game. And it’s a fun game worth playing.
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