Are you comparing yourself to others on social media?

It is easy for your confidence to take a dive.

Unfortunately, social media provides us with quite a few platforms that quickly set us on a path of self-doubt and unpleasant self-derision. 

For some, who perhaps have a negative body image, it may be the sight of fit, beautiful people heading for the gym. For others it may be a post from a friend or family member who seems to have everything going for them – and you just don’t feel you measure up to their standards. 

When you spend a lot of time on the net, or surfing social media sites, you run the risk of seeing or hearing something which may cause you to doubt your own appearance, or even your success in life.

You could end up comparing your entire life with someone you have never met.

 

Don’t allow anyone, or anything else, to determine your worth. 

You may be creating unnecessary drama, anxiety, feelings of anxiety, lack of self-esteem, and self-confidence, by continually comparing yourself with others on social media. 

The urge to always indulge in comparisons may be a conscious action, or it could be a psychological reaction triggered by the subconscious mind. Either way, it is a compulsive behaviour which you may have little or no control over, making the resulting anxiety, self-doubt, and disappointment in your own life, to be overwhelming.

Here are some tips to help you stop being you own worst enemy.

·      What you see on social media is very seldom the whole picture. Nobody deliberately posts stories and pics of frustrations, poor business decisions, a messy home, or themselves or the kids not looking good.

·      People always showcase the best of their lives on social media. You may even do that as well!

·      Remember that your life is never the same as anyone else’s, as everyone is different, but not always better! What might appear to be a perfect life, may indeed not be so. Focus on your own life, your own successes, and what is important to you.

·      The major problem factor on social media sites is that most of the time it does not reflect reality, so never compare yourself to someone else. Unreasonable envy and jealousy can easily arise, especially regarding people you know, and just make you more anxious and dissatisfied.

·      Focus more on the real world, and less on the cyber make-believe world that is making you feel that you are inferior to many of the folk out there. 

·      Don’t worry about what everyone else on social media is doing, or where they are going. Concentrate on doing what you love doing, even if it is not as glamourous or exciting as a trip to an exotic destination.

·      Reduce your time spent surfing the social media sites. This may be the most difficult of all to accomplish, as we live in an age where almost everything is digitally controlled. The best way forward is to allow yourself only certain times to check your accounts, and especially avoid looking at profiles of folk that trigger thoughts of comparison.

The more you focus on your own goals, and your own version of what success really means to you, the better off you will be.

 

There is no magic potion.

Medical experts agree that there is no miraculous pill that will have a positive impact on fixing compulsive behaviour patterns. Many practitioners now recommend hypnotherapy as the best option to help deal with compulsive use of the internet, especially social media.

Studies have showed that hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, is able to help all kinds of addictive and compulsive behaviour patterns, including an overwhelming desire to continuously be on the net and social media.

 

How hypnotherapy can help you.

Hypnotherapy works by accessing the subconscious mind, and can therefore establish the reasons behind compulsive behaviour, and the therapist is able to make positive suggestions to help deal with the faulty behaviour. 

·      You will learn to value your own time more, and not focus on how the rest of world spends their time.

·      Be grateful for friends and family who appreciate you for who you are – actually an okay, special person!

·      Investigate and assess exactly where the negative comparisons are originating, and help you to deal with any feelings of inferiority.

·      Help you to develop coping strategies for anxiety and stress which may have resulted from unfavourable comparisons with others.

·      Show you how to break the compulsive behaviour pattern of always wanting to be online.

In a nutshell, hypnosis can help to restore lost self-esteem, renew your confidence, and give you the means to take back your life.