Hey there. I see it all the time and I know you do too. Social media is a story. At best, it props up the best elements of our life. At worst, it is a fake, surface level depiction of something that does not reflect reality. If you spend your time comparing your life to what you see scrolling through your feed, you are going to miss out on what is right in front of you. And eventually, you will be miserable.
In fitness, this shows up everywhere. You see the before and after photos without any of the years in between. You see the workouts perfectly framed with the best angles and the right lighting. You see people claiming that they are locked in every single day. And you compare that to your own messy, inconsistent journey and wonder what is wrong with you. Nothing is wrong with you. You are human. You have ups and downs. That is real.
The same thing applies outside of fitness. You see people posting about vacations, promotions, and perfect family moments. What you do not see are the arguments, the sleepless nights, and the doubts. You do not see the loneliness that someone might be feeling even as they post pictures of smiling faces. And if you buy into the story without remembering it is just that, a story, you start to believe you are falling short.
Social media is not going anywhere. And I am not saying you should ignore it. I use it daily. But I use it with the understanding that what I put out is only a piece of the full picture. What you put out is the same. That is why it is so important to build your life from the inside/out. When you are connected to yourself, when you know who you are and what you value, you do not need to measure up to anyone else’s highlight reel.
So next time you are scrolling, pause and remind yourself that this is only one angle of someone’s life. Do not compare your entire story to their single frame. Keep showing up for yourself, in fitness and beyond. Because the real story is the one you are writing every day, and that is enough.
If you are ready to start building fitness and life strategies from the inside/out, I invite you to join The YLF Experience. It is where you learn to build confidence, consistency, and calmness in a way that supports the life you want to live.