On Social Media and Mindfulness

Social Media

I was having a conversation with my colleague when finally asked him why didn't he update his social media in this FOMO era. He answered shortly: It's more comfortable for me to do so.

He has Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter account but he said he only uses them in order to know recent social issues/public opinion. He only has a post on his IG account. His twitter's last update was on 2015, and his Facebook barely lives. His explanation surprises me because everyone is trying to get public attention on their social media, don't they?

I made my Instagram account last year, it was so late considering this platform started at 2010 and got rapid popularity afterwards. I often find myself being indecisive about uploading a new photo on my Instagram. Bunch of questions come to my mind: is this interesting to my followers? Would they think that I try to show off? Sometimes I don't give a f and go on with uploading new post thingy, most of the time I resist the urge to post everything on social media.

Conversation with my colleague reminds me about how important to stick on our values and what's important in our live.

Mindfulness

On other occasion, I asked my husband: how to stop hating (some) people? He said: See the context. In some occasion they may be annoying, but they can't be annoying all the time. 

He answered lightly but, for me, it's utterly hard to apply. The conversation continued but in the end of it I still couldn't figure how to stop hating some people. The following day I decided to re-read Mindfulness published by Harvard Business Review. I found that some chapters of this book help me understand of what my husband said.

Mindfulness is important because it constructs emotional agility. Knowing that some people personality doesn't fit us and accepting them are halfway to train our emotional agility. And I know I've reached this point. But more importantly, I have to act based on my values so I could be unhooked from the difficult thoughts/emotions. That's the hardest part. For me, being mindful is a lifetime learning, and I'm still far away from having that personal trait.

I have those days when I couldn't control my facial expression and my words burst into tears. I have those days when I'm feel tiny and insignificant, and it drains me emotionally. When those days come, I wish I would always remember to stop a while, take some deep breath, and focus on what I can do. I wish I always remember to examine my feeling with compassion, and not being too hard on myself.

Image: Freepik.com