Suicidal Media Pt. 2: “The Overdose”

The objective this week is spending time picking apart the different effects of social media “overdose” and the reasoning behind me choosing the term “suicidal” as it relates to social media.

Last week I broke down the what, how, and why of my perspective, so now that you have a better understanding, let’s talk about who you need to unfollow/block, mute, etc., to create a more positive atmosphere on your feed; when to decide it’s time for a break or time to make some alterations to your social media settings, and where your state of mind should be when it comes to the importance of social media self-discipline. Let’s dig in!

While using social media, you might as well make it how you want, and unfollow/block anyone that isn’t suitable to your progression and peace of mind. So who should you unfollow, block, and/or delete? The answer is simple: NEGATIVITY! But to take it a step further; ex’s, friends and family of ex’s, toxic people you’re no longer friends with, and just any type of nonsense that disturbs you. Get rid of it! Stuff like that can ruin your train of thought, it could trigger something that may cause you to go to a dark place, or it could simply just get on your nerves, and ain’t nobody got time for that! If you don’t want to unfriend them, you can simply unfollow or mute them and never have to see the foolishness again. Isn’t that just lovely? But don’t forget to replace the negative with positive. Follow some people who inspire you and give you hope! Don’t deprive yourself of what’s good for you.

How do you know when it’s time for a break from social media? When you don’t get things done because you’re too busy scrolling. That’s one way to know. Also, if you find that it changes your mood. Does it give you an attitude? Does it dampen your positive outlook on certain things? Does it cause you to become numb to the importance of what’s going on in the world around you, because almost all things tragic are just a click away? Sadly, just about anything can be posted on social media and if your brain is set up anything like mine, once you see it, you can’t unsee it and it’s really disturbing, at times.. But anyway, on a lighter note, if you’re not quite ready to completely break off from social media usage, there’s other ways to keep you from constantly picking up your phone and scrolling, like changing the notification settings. Sometimes if we don’t see that someone tagged us on Facebook or sent us a Snapchat, we won’t think to open that app. You can also delete the app from your phone, so when you pick up your phone to go to that app, it won’t even be there! The solution is, you probably won’t even spend time re-downloading, and logging in, just to scroll. 🤷🏽‍♀️

The problem is, we feel like we need social media. Like, we’re missing out on life, like we’re not included, if we don’t remain active, but depending on where your state of mind is, or how your self-discipline is set up, it may be best if you just chill for a while, and not even entertain the petty side of you, or the insecure, lonely, and procrastinating side of you, because in all honesty, that’s what it is. The pettiness comes from us posting things just for a certain someone to see and feel some type of way about it, right? When we’re insecure and lonely, we post things for attention, and/or acceptance, so you find yourself sharing intimate or vulnerable things about yourself that you later regret and want to delete, but the world-wide web neverrr forgets honey, so you might as well not post that thing at all, and deal with your problems in private! Plus, some people really don’t care, and they feed off of your weaknesses. They may say they’re praying for you, while really preying on you, and hoping your situation doesn’t get any better for the benefit of them having something to talk about!

So, the point of all this is to inform you that social media can be suicide to your dreams and aspirations! It can be suicide to your relationship, friendships, even your job! We find ourselves not pursuing something just because social media says we can’t or there’s already so many other people doing that same thing, so now we’re insecure; second guessing our own gifts. We slide in people’s dm’s knowing we have a commitment with someone else. We even sabotage our chances of getting a good job, because of what we post on social media! Please.. pay attention to where you are mentally and emotionally, so that you don’t turn to social media to vent or to consume contamination. We often wonder why we go and look for a fix, but then end up feeling even more empty; it’s because we fill ourselves up with the world’s wisdom, instead of God’s. Remember Psalm 55:22.. Cast your cares on The Lord and He will take care of you..

I pray you love on yourself this week. Search yourself and figure out what areas you can do better in, then do what it takes to put forth the effort of being the best you, you can be!

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Suicidal Media

There are so many different names for social media; honestly you could just replace my title with whatever it means to you. Keep this title in mind though, because I’m going to thoroughly explain to you the “what, how, & why” of my perspective. Before we get started, let’s define the meaning of suicidal:

Adjective

• Deeply unhappy or depressed and likely to commit suicide.
• Relating to or likely to lead to suicide.
• Likely to have a disastrously damaging effect on one’s self or one’s interests.

Now let’s switch it up a bit, reverse the definitions, and allow me point out what’s likely to have a disastrously damaging effect on one’s self or one’s interests, how it’s relating to or likely to lead to suicide, and why you’re deeply unhappy or depressed and likely to commit suicide. Doesn’t that just flow together so perfectly? Let’s get into it!

How big of a role does social media play in your life? When you wake up in the morning, or middle of the night, what’s the first thing you do? Reach for your phone? Go to the first social media app that’s on your mind, and catch up on the TL? Even if that’s not the first thing you do, let me tell you what’s so damaging about too much intake of social media. Do you ever feel like you’re offended and you don’t know why? Do you ever feel judged? Insecure? Alone and not good enough? We have the whole world at our fingertips, yet we still feel isolated. We live in desolation, yet we get on social media, everyday just to see what other people’s lives are like, and what they’re up to. Have you noticed how social media has turned into a world wind of opinions? Do you realize you’re reading the opinions of others’, day in and day out? Aren’t they stuck in your head? Everybody’s the fashion police or the person that decides how significant you are, based on where you work or how you live. Don’t you think of them before you post a selfie, a status, or share a life changing event? Now, imagine what your mental health and love for yourself would be like, if you monitored the time you spend feeding into other people’s obnoxious thoughts and negative attitudes. What if you just took 3 days off to focus on yourself and clear your mind of the opinions of others’? How much of a positive impact that would be on thoughts related to or likely to lead to suicide!

Why are you deeply unhappy and/or depressed, you ask? Because you are consumed with the thoughts and opinions of others’, which leads to over-thinking, then low self-esteem, then insecurity. All of a sudden you’re seeking the approval of others. You feel unloved, even though you are truly adored. You feel like other people’s lives are better than yours. You feel like you aren’t where you should be in life, based on where someone else is in life, at your age or even younger. You compare yourself, constantly. Second guess yourself, and will even be having a pretty good day, until you get on social media, scrolling! We already have thousands of thoughts to deal with on our own, but then we have the nerve to get on social media, and add to them?! By tending to other people’s lives?! This is what slows us down. This is what keeps us from investing in ourselves and our dreams. This is what keeps us from accomplishing our goals. You ever told yourself you were gonna let go of the negativity in your life, but then got on social media, and went right back to it? Social media can be whatever we make it to be, but let’s be honest, there is A LOT of negative content on there, and depending on what kind of head space you’re in, what are you gonna pay more attention to??? Learn to take care of your heart and mind! Be mindful of what you allow IN! The Word of God says think on these things! ..whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, and lovely.. Philippians 4:8.

Ultimately, it’s up to you if you want to be happy or depressed, positive or negative, but I promise you, if you just START with taking some time OFF of social media, you’ll see how much of a difference it makes in your mental state of being. You think you’ll be bored without it, but honestly it makes things better. You know it’s our thoughts that lead to our actions, anyway, which is why people turn to suicide. But that’s another blog for another time. This isn’t any research based scientific facts or anything, just pure life lessons I’ve learned through experiences and a perspective to take into consideration. I pray this helps someone. Don’t hesitate to do whatever it is you need to do to add peace to your life. We only have ONE to live!

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Satisfied

Stop entertaining potential & prepare yourself for the real thing.

Practice makes perfect, right? Sometimes practice can be poison. Testing the waters? Dating with no purpose? Allowing this & that one into your personal space, over & over again? & you wonder why you’re drained, frustrated, & impatient. Love is something we all long for, but continually trying to force something that doesn’t fit will only damage us in the end. There’s a void that needs to be filled, but instead of us allowing God to pour into us, we put our time & attention into meaningless relationships & friendships that only take from us & deposit more insecurities, toxicity, & emptiness into that same void we so badly want to be filled. Naturally, we crave love & physical affection, having someone in the flesh to talk to, because it’s so much easier than trying to connect with God, right? But that will never amount to the love God has for you, & the little bit of love you choose to entertain doesn’t even compare to the soul mate God has set aside just for you. Do you realize what I just said?? JUST FOR YOU. You won’t have to share or fight to be their only one. Not number one, but ONLY one. That’s the joy of waiting on God; it’s ALWAYS worth it. Waiting isn’t fun but the promise is fulfilling.

Dear Lord God, forgive me for believing that I could fill the void. Lord, I give You permission to interrupt the pattern. Help me to put my focus back into You & Your will for my life. Heal my broken heart, Jesus. Hurt people, hurt people & I no longer want to play a part in the break down of myself or others. Wrap me in Your love, God, & remind me of my worth so that I don’t make the mistake of trying to find it in others. The ONLY relationship I need is one with You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13

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