Instagram Reality
A reminder that Instagram doesn’t always reveal the full picture.
I have a love/hate relationship with Instagram. I love to create and share, hoping to inspire a few people across the virtual landscape. And in turn, I love being inspired by people all across the world. But there are moments and cycles where I lose myself and I lose my breath, lost in feelings of unworthiness and comparison. Can I show up with a clear vision, create something beautiful, and share authentically and limit doubt and mindless scrolling?
Who am I? Am I enough?
My response: Gratitude.
Reminder: Your worth isn’t dependent on the number of followers or likes you have. It can be easy to lose perspective when you receive a negative comment, or you lose a few followers. Gratitude for what you do have, tangible in your reality can be effective in bringing you back to earth.
Why is gratitude effective?
Research by UC Davis psychologist Robert Emmons, author of Thanks!": How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier” reveals that a gratitude practice can improve wellbeing and life satisfaction. Scientifically, gratitude releases dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that affect mood. Gratitude journaling can seem simple but scientific studies like the one conducted by Emmons reveals that benefits includes physical, psychological and social effects.
Benefits of Gratitude
*from Emmons
Increased feelings of self-worth, optimism and positive emotions
Decreased feelings of loneliness and isolation
Increased feelings of compassion and forgiveness
Decreased feelings of stress
Gratitude
Gratitude chips away at feelings of jealousy.
Gratitude halts feelings of unworthiness.
Gratitude obliterates comparisons.
Join me in starting your morning with gratitude journaling.
I am grateful for ____.
That’s all it takes, it’s a process and a journey.
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