Ep6: How Social Media Hijacks Your Mind and Mental Health: Are You Unknowingly Trapped in a Digital Maze? | Mindset Reinvented

Title: Scroll Shock: How Social Media Hijacks Your Mind

Welcome to Mindset Reinvented! I'm your host, and today we're exploring the complex relationship between social media and mental health.

Recently, I shared a video on my social media channels, asking for feedback on a podcast episode about relationships. Despite having thousands of connections - people I've known for years - only about 15 engaged with the post, mostly close friends, family, and a few colleagues.

This experience didn't upset me, but it raised some questions: How often do we post something, hoping for numerous responses, only to hear crickets? Why does this matter to us so much? Why do those little 'thumbs-up icons' and 'comment counts' have such an impact on our feelings?

Today, we're diving deep into the world of social media. We'll explore the good, the not-so-good, and how we can shift our mindset to make social media work for us, not against us.

The Positive Side of Social Media: Social media is like having a window to the world in our pockets. It allows us to:

• Stay connected with friends and family
• Discover new ideas
• Rally support for important causes
• Share content and connect with audiences (particularly useful for podcast hosts like myself)

The Darker Side of Social Media: Imagine social media as a huge party where everyone's only sharing their best moments:

• The awesome promotion they just got
• The Instagram-worthy vacation they're on
• The picture-perfect relationship they're in

It's as if everyone's wearing their best outfit and biggest smile - you get the idea.

Case Study: Sarah's Instagram Struggle I once coached a client, let's call her Sarah. She was smart and had a great job, but Instagram was negatively impacting her mental health. She'd spend hours scrolling, seeing friends post about their achievements, and end up feeling like she was falling behind in life. It was as if she was watching a highlight reel of everyone else's life while being painfully aware of her own behind-the-scenes struggles.

The Comparison Trap: This is one of the biggest pitfalls of social media. It can:

• Chip away at our self-esteem
• Make us second-guess our life choices
• Trigger a bunch of feelings that don't serve us well

It's like being at that party I mentioned and feeling like everyone else is having a much better time than you.

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): You know that feeling when you're scrolling on your couch and it seems like everyone else is out there living their best life? Here's a reality check – life isn't a non-stop parade of exciting events. Everyone has boring days, routine stuff, and quiet moments. They just don't usually post about those.

Expectations vs. Reality: When I posted that video asking for feedback, part of me hoped for insightful responses. The reality was different. But here's where we need to change our thinking.

Instead of focusing on how many people interact with us online, what if we focused on the quality of those interactions? Those 15 responses I got? They were thoughtful, engaged, and genuinely helpful. They came from people who actually took the time to listen and provide valuable feedback. That's worth so much more than a hundred quick likes, don't you think?

Rethinking Social Media: It's crucial to see social media as a tool, not a measure of our worth or success. When I use it to promote my podcast, I'm not looking for validation – I'm trying to share content that might help people. That's a crucial mindset shift.

Authenticity Online: In a world of carefully curated feeds, there's real power in just being yourself. Share your true experiences – the ups and the downs. You might be surprised at how people respond to authenticity.

The Addictive Nature of Social Media: These platforms are designed to keep us hooked, much like how casinos are designed to keep you playing. The notifications, the endless scrolling, the little rush we get from likes and comments – it's all carefully crafted to keep us coming back for more.

I've seen people at concerts, barely watching the show because they're too busy trying to get the perfect video for their Instagram story. It's a reminder of how we sometimes trade real moments for online approval.

Mindset Reinvention for Social Media: Here are some ideas to change our thinking around social media:

1. Set boundaries: Choose specific times for checking social media, like you would for any other activity.
2. Be mindful: Before you post or comment, take a breath and ask yourself why you're doing it. Is it adding something good to your life or someone else's?
3. Clean up your feed: Surround yourself with content that makes you feel good or teaches you something. Unfollow accounts that consistently bring you down.
4. Take breaks: Step away from social media now and then. Trust me, the world won't end if you're not online for a day or two.
5. Focus on real-life connections: Use social media to enhance relationships, not replace them.
6. Remember, it's all highlights: Just like people don't usually share their struggles at a party, social media posts rarely show the whole picture of someone's life.
7. Practice gratitude: Instead of focusing on the engagement you didn't get, appreciate the meaningful interactions you did have.
8. Be yourself: Share your true self, not just the polished version. You might be surprised at how people respond to genuineness.

The key is finding a balance. It's about enjoying the connection without getting lost in comparison. It's appreciating the ability to share instantly with friends across the globe, while also valuing those deep, in-person conversations.

We're the authors of our own stories. Social media is just one way to share a few chapters. Don't let it write your whole book for you.

Closing Exercise: As we wrap up, I want you to try something. Close your eyes for a second, take a deep breath, and think about a moment of real connection you've had recently. Maybe it was a heart-to-heart with a friend, a good laugh with a loved one, or even a nice chat with a stranger. That feeling of genuine connection – that's what we should aim for, both online and offline.

Final Thoughts: In the spirit of what we do at Mindset Reinvented, let's look at social media not as a popularity contest or a measure of our worth, but as a tool for real connection and sharing. Let's focus on the quality of our interactions, not the quantity of our likes.

And most importantly, let's remember that our value isn't determined by our online presence. It's determined by how we treat ourselves and others, how we grow and learn, and how we contribute to the world around us – online and off.

Thanks for joining me on this deep dive into the social media world. If you found this helpful, why not share it with someone who might need to hear it? And remember, your journey is unique and valuable, no matter what it looks like on a screen.

Until next time, keep reinventing your mindset, and stay true to yourself in this digital world of ours!