Are we being our most authentic selves and living authentic lives but only posting what we want the world to see? Using every resource to glamourise mediocrity and disguise pain? Authentic is defined as: “not false or copied; genuine; real.” And, my favorite definition, “representing one's true nature or beliefs; true to oneself or to the person." However ,these days our primary focus is on social media and how we appear to world on it.The amount of followers equals popularity equals perceived success. It no longer matters what we think about ourselves but rather what others think about us. Despite the advance in technology and the many benefits of social media when used constructively, its glaringly obvious that we are infact moving backwards in our thinking. Disregarding all the progress we have made through protest and struggles for human rights, equal rights or just the right to be who we are. The right to be different,most importantly  the right to stand out! Now all our social media posts is about fitting in ,as long as the world believes you are happy then you are happy right? No longer are we individuals who have our own opinions embracing our uniqueness. Instead we have moved as far away from living real authentic lives to simply living digital lives, portraying an image on social media to impress ,whether fact or fiction. #Lifegoals #Relationshipgoals suddenly everything centers around hashtags and not really living. Why has it become so important to convince people we are living fairy tale lives , that we are flawless ,no spots and definately no wrinkles, when every line on our face tells its own magnificent story  and each exquisite scar visible or otherwise is a testament of the battles we have survived. Why do we insist even encourage such superficial behaviour? Hiding our beautiful souls deliberately ,unaware that with every doctored picture we upload we  lose a little bit more of  our true selves. Combing through apps that make us thinner ,gives us facelifts or even lighten our skin ,editing pictures with filters and backgrounds as if our lives depends on it,craving likes, re-tweets  and shares not realizing it serves only to fuel our insecurities and feeds the lies until even we begin to buy into it. Social media experts argue " social media can be used for various noble causes like social welfare activities and promotion of Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). Not only this, but it also helps to change the way people live. It creates awareness and helps people to discover various innovations that help them enhance their own lives." However, despite the level of awareness and enlightenment people no longer consider themselves individuals ,human beings with feelings instead we think of ourselves as brands. Brands to develop and modify as we see fit.A brand that must be maintained constantly caring less about actual friends and more about  our followers. This "Brand" has quickly become our obsession which Borders dangerously on addiction.

Clarissa Silva a behavioral scientist states "Social media has been linked to higher levels of loneliness, envy, anxiety, depression, narcissism and decreased social skills .The narratives we share and portray on social media are all positive and celebratory. Meaning for some, sometimes it appears everyone you know are in great relationships, taking 5-star vacations and living your dream life. " in her article Social Media’s Impact On Self-Esteem she writes extensively about the "Paradox effect " that she believes social media has created stating quite brilliantly "giving off the illusion of many choices, while making it harder to find viable options. Can it be that our highly connected world has now become disconnected?" So the question today is not how many of us is living authentic lives but rather how many would post their actual lives . how many of us possess the courage to upload an original image of what we look like right now ...no filters ,no snapchat nothing. Sure its fun but imagine how freeing it would be to upload a picture and  proudly proclaim " world this is me , I love myself and I don't care what you say. "

How powerful would that be. what an awesomely positive message to share with the world .

The saddest fact being with all the editing this ,adding that we forget who we are and if we don't remember who we are ,how can we remember how to love who we are? 

Personally I prefer words to images and I love that social media gives me a voice, where I can tell my story , to share my truth and to courageously live authentically in the good ,the bad and the ugly. 

If a picture is worth a thousand words ,imagine how powerful that makes you ...and then remember that feeling every time you upload an image not worthy or true to you... #LiveYourTruth

#LiveAuthentic #DoYou #RealYouIsPower #LoveYourself

References: 

Clarissa Silva Scientist. Strategist. Relationship Expert. Entrepreneur. http://clarissasilva.com/ https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_58ade038e4b0d818c4f0a4e4