When I was having my massive social media meltdown of 2021 I wrote myself a lot of pep talks. I wrote affirmations about who I am and why I started. I wrote lists of the parts of being online I still enjoy (connecting with you all being a big one!). I wrote reminders of how much I’d put into building my online space and reasons why I deserved to feel okay being there.
I'm in a bus home right now and honestly sending this to everyone I can think about, it resonated so much, thank you...! ❤️
I have a complicated relationship with blame and feeling just more stupid then people around me (I'm a PhD student so 😅🤦♀️), slowly trying to grow my skin again after some tough times - and notes like yours helps so so much ❤️
I have never been one to have a huge online presence, but I still relate to this so much in other areas of my life. One of the things that really helped me was to learn about the fawn response to trauma (as opposed to fight/flight/freeze). I highly recommend looking into Sam Dylan Finch's writing on the topic as a great starting point if this is new to you. Hopefully this information can help you to show more compassion to yourself when facing these struggles.
As always, you hit the nail on the head. I had a large online presence a few years ago, and even after four years of shutting down my “alter ego” and choosing a more subtle life, I still remember the mean comments and the many ways people told me I could be/do better/more.
I am slowly healing from that self-created life and I’m much happier in relative anonymity.
I hope I can remember to stand up for myself more often. It’s empowering when I do, but it takes a bit for me to remember.
I feel like I’m seeing this a lot from people with a platform and an empathetic personality type. They stood up for what they believed in and then it was like “but what about xyz problems in the world that you haven’t also addressed?! If you REALLY cared you would post about that too!” And it’s like, come on, where is the line? You can’t take on every issue in the world and stay sane. You have to at some point prioritise self care. I’m so glad you’ve found balance and confidence in yourself and your abilities again. 💚
Hear hear!!👏🏻 Our society teaches women to be codependent, so when we get healthy we’re often viewed as selfish or uncaring. It takes most of us years of unlearning to stand up for ourselves, so big kudos to you for doing that. We need more people walking away from this toxic idea that we owe everyone something.
I don’t suppose I will ever understand how you are able to be a sensitive, thoughtful, beautiful soul in the world and manage to show up on social media. Sending you so much love (as always), and knowing that there’s actually nothing at all wrong with your wonderful spine, and lots of things weird about how our human world is evolving
I'm in a bus home right now and honestly sending this to everyone I can think about, it resonated so much, thank you...! ❤️
I have a complicated relationship with blame and feeling just more stupid then people around me (I'm a PhD student so 😅🤦♀️), slowly trying to grow my skin again after some tough times - and notes like yours helps so so much ❤️
I feel all of this. Internalizing blame gives a sense of control. There are so many complicated layers to sort through.
Thank you Megan for these messages.
I'm proud of you! I struggle with internalizing blame too, and it brings me nothing but pain and shame and guilt. ☹️
I have never been one to have a huge online presence, but I still relate to this so much in other areas of my life. One of the things that really helped me was to learn about the fawn response to trauma (as opposed to fight/flight/freeze). I highly recommend looking into Sam Dylan Finch's writing on the topic as a great starting point if this is new to you. Hopefully this information can help you to show more compassion to yourself when facing these struggles.
As always, you hit the nail on the head. I had a large online presence a few years ago, and even after four years of shutting down my “alter ego” and choosing a more subtle life, I still remember the mean comments and the many ways people told me I could be/do better/more.
I am slowly healing from that self-created life and I’m much happier in relative anonymity.
I hope I can remember to stand up for myself more often. It’s empowering when I do, but it takes a bit for me to remember.
Thank you for the timely reminder.
I don't think it's possible for me to love this post more.
I feel like I’m seeing this a lot from people with a platform and an empathetic personality type. They stood up for what they believed in and then it was like “but what about xyz problems in the world that you haven’t also addressed?! If you REALLY cared you would post about that too!” And it’s like, come on, where is the line? You can’t take on every issue in the world and stay sane. You have to at some point prioritise self care. I’m so glad you’ve found balance and confidence in yourself and your abilities again. 💚
Hear hear!!👏🏻 Our society teaches women to be codependent, so when we get healthy we’re often viewed as selfish or uncaring. It takes most of us years of unlearning to stand up for ourselves, so big kudos to you for doing that. We need more people walking away from this toxic idea that we owe everyone something.
I don’t suppose I will ever understand how you are able to be a sensitive, thoughtful, beautiful soul in the world and manage to show up on social media. Sending you so much love (as always), and knowing that there’s actually nothing at all wrong with your wonderful spine, and lots of things weird about how our human world is evolving
I LOVE YOU