For a person who struggles with anxiety, this brought me comfort and encouragement. Many times I tend to overthink the things I share on the internet thinking about “what will people think about me” or just like you mentioned, “who gives a shit about it” but then I came to a realization that I’m doing it for myself because I give many “shits” about it and so do the true people I have in my life. I love you’re Monday reads Lana, I truly do and they motivate me so so much. I am thankful for your dedication.
wow i've never thought about it that way. i've always been someone who thinks people posting mundane things from their lives as pointless but this brought me a new perspective (:
I have nothing against people who share about their life online. You do you. But I personally don’t really feel comfortable sharing or showing parts of my life online. This is so because I’m selfish in a way of keeping things to myself and experiencing the highs (and the lows) with the people whom I’m experiencing it with. Let’s say I’m at a party - I’d rather be much more present with my friends than being anxious about getting the perfect group photo for my gram. I’m not saying I won’t post anything - I’d post it in retrospect. But it’s just the fact that I really appreciate being present in the moment because in today’s world it’s more of “getting-the-perfect-angle” which makes it harder to be present in the moment. Before I used to do it because everyone else was doing it. Now that I took time with it, I know for a fact that that’s something I’m not going to be doing a lot.
I was literally thinking about this topic earlier today. I do feel a little resentful of sharing a lot of my life on social media because I think it can be lame and also I don’t want people to know everything that’s going on in my life.
I just wrote up a long freewrite on this because it’s something I think about a lot—in an active sense, as well, in that it guides and informs many of my decisions (like the decision to maintain a Facebook account with a limited circle of friends and acquaintances and the decision to *not* have an Instagram account). And it touched upon a lot of issues that I think are relevant to the topic: authenticity and selectivity, directionality and asymmetry, perceptions versus realities, connection versus consumption, and so on. There's a lot to unpack. A dissertation's worth and then some, I'm sure.
But rather than offering my own limited insights, I ultimately decided to take a different approach. Because I’m only ever just a person online, as much as I’m only ever just a person anywhere else. So I figured I’d ask you, Lana, some questions instead—questions that can be answered, silently contemplated, or ignored, either as partially or comprehensively as you'd like. So, if I might:
- How do you—whom I can intuit by nature of your character and integrity are a very genuine individual—manage being both a person and a *persona*?
- How does it affect you to be widely seen but not necessarily known? Is the control you have over what you share versus what you withhold (let’s call it “curating”) empowering or limiting?
- How do you feel about the “fourth wall” phenomenon—in this sense, kind of the inverse of film and theatre: the appearance that there *isn’t* one but the reality that there most definitely *is* one?
- What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve encountered in your work?
- What tensions does it create in your life, your relationships, and in the way you view yourself?
- How are you affected by the way other people engage with you over social media in relation to your own preferred manner of expression and engagement?
- How does social media both facilitate and limit your engagements with others? Where are the biggest disconnects?
- How have the things shared by others contributed to your well-being?
- How is it most fulfilling? What within you does it leave feeling unfulfilled?
I'm thinking about this all the time, I'm the kind of person who always hesitant on sharing things I love and everything that seems precious to me, random videos, quote from a book, my clingy cat. I've been hiding all of these to my archive storage because of the mindset of "why should I flex these things, they don't even mind my business" it's an everyday struggle Lana, years already. and I feel that, my existence is slowly fading...
Great post as always! It made me think differently about people sharing the seemingly banal things in their lives. And glad to hear you're closing in on 20,000 subscribers here, it's well deserved, Lana!
People sharing things on instagram helps me so much! I was far less happy and productive before. I'm busy tunnel visioning on work so it's basically the only wholesome distraction I have. I'd share more things If I had more spare time!
I do enjoy the stories, experiences and content that people share of their life, meaningful messages, etc. When people share a part of themselves it makes you feel less alone, inspired, motivated, understood and a number of other emotions. That's the kind of experience I also want to create with my online community. I guess that's the reason I started a blog and post on Instagram. Hopefully, soon I'll be sharing a bit more via YouTube and my stagnant podcast.
Another great post, Lana. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Sharing useful information which can help others in someway is good...but I would not really be comfortable with sharing every detail of my life with the world...I do feel why would somebody be even interested to know..
I think sharing something that will help someone is great but it is sometimes uncomfortable sharing some parts of my personal life. Not because I am scared if people will like it but because sometimes I will seem vulnerable when something goes wrong in my life or like I have nothing better to do. So I usually share when I have something really really important.
For a person who struggles with anxiety, this brought me comfort and encouragement. Many times I tend to overthink the things I share on the internet thinking about “what will people think about me” or just like you mentioned, “who gives a shit about it” but then I came to a realization that I’m doing it for myself because I give many “shits” about it and so do the true people I have in my life. I love you’re Monday reads Lana, I truly do and they motivate me so so much. I am thankful for your dedication.
wow i've never thought about it that way. i've always been someone who thinks people posting mundane things from their lives as pointless but this brought me a new perspective (:
I have nothing against people who share about their life online. You do you. But I personally don’t really feel comfortable sharing or showing parts of my life online. This is so because I’m selfish in a way of keeping things to myself and experiencing the highs (and the lows) with the people whom I’m experiencing it with. Let’s say I’m at a party - I’d rather be much more present with my friends than being anxious about getting the perfect group photo for my gram. I’m not saying I won’t post anything - I’d post it in retrospect. But it’s just the fact that I really appreciate being present in the moment because in today’s world it’s more of “getting-the-perfect-angle” which makes it harder to be present in the moment. Before I used to do it because everyone else was doing it. Now that I took time with it, I know for a fact that that’s something I’m not going to be doing a lot.
I was literally thinking about this topic earlier today. I do feel a little resentful of sharing a lot of my life on social media because I think it can be lame and also I don’t want people to know everything that’s going on in my life.
What do you think?
I just wrote up a long freewrite on this because it’s something I think about a lot—in an active sense, as well, in that it guides and informs many of my decisions (like the decision to maintain a Facebook account with a limited circle of friends and acquaintances and the decision to *not* have an Instagram account). And it touched upon a lot of issues that I think are relevant to the topic: authenticity and selectivity, directionality and asymmetry, perceptions versus realities, connection versus consumption, and so on. There's a lot to unpack. A dissertation's worth and then some, I'm sure.
But rather than offering my own limited insights, I ultimately decided to take a different approach. Because I’m only ever just a person online, as much as I’m only ever just a person anywhere else. So I figured I’d ask you, Lana, some questions instead—questions that can be answered, silently contemplated, or ignored, either as partially or comprehensively as you'd like. So, if I might:
- How do you—whom I can intuit by nature of your character and integrity are a very genuine individual—manage being both a person and a *persona*?
- How does it affect you to be widely seen but not necessarily known? Is the control you have over what you share versus what you withhold (let’s call it “curating”) empowering or limiting?
- How do you feel about the “fourth wall” phenomenon—in this sense, kind of the inverse of film and theatre: the appearance that there *isn’t* one but the reality that there most definitely *is* one?
- What are some of the most significant challenges you’ve encountered in your work?
- What tensions does it create in your life, your relationships, and in the way you view yourself?
- How are you affected by the way other people engage with you over social media in relation to your own preferred manner of expression and engagement?
- How does social media both facilitate and limit your engagements with others? Where are the biggest disconnects?
- How have the things shared by others contributed to your well-being?
- How is it most fulfilling? What within you does it leave feeling unfulfilled?
Yup. That's what I came up with.
I'm thinking about this all the time, I'm the kind of person who always hesitant on sharing things I love and everything that seems precious to me, random videos, quote from a book, my clingy cat. I've been hiding all of these to my archive storage because of the mindset of "why should I flex these things, they don't even mind my business" it's an everyday struggle Lana, years already. and I feel that, my existence is slowly fading...
Great post as always! It made me think differently about people sharing the seemingly banal things in their lives. And glad to hear you're closing in on 20,000 subscribers here, it's well deserved, Lana!
Love the newsletter and absolutely adore the artwork x
First time to receive a newsletter in my life. This is something I want to be part of and be excited about. Thanks Lana. ❤️
People sharing things on instagram helps me so much! I was far less happy and productive before. I'm busy tunnel visioning on work so it's basically the only wholesome distraction I have. I'd share more things If I had more spare time!
Lana, you are young, and I am not...but you are an old soul deep inside and have much that is valuable to share with any age group. Keep shining. Dax
I do enjoy the stories, experiences and content that people share of their life, meaningful messages, etc. When people share a part of themselves it makes you feel less alone, inspired, motivated, understood and a number of other emotions. That's the kind of experience I also want to create with my online community. I guess that's the reason I started a blog and post on Instagram. Hopefully, soon I'll be sharing a bit more via YouTube and my stagnant podcast.
Another great post, Lana. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Absolutely loved this 💝
Thankyou Lana for sharing ✨💐❣️
Dear Lana.
I really like to share different things. I love taking that opportunity to enlighten the world and create the better future with my art.
But there are several things I would never put on the internet (for example my appearence and myself as a person).
I am very satisfied that I have this opportunity to create and share for free, anytime, anywhere anyhow.
Sharing useful information which can help others in someway is good...but I would not really be comfortable with sharing every detail of my life with the world...I do feel why would somebody be even interested to know..
I think sharing something that will help someone is great but it is sometimes uncomfortable sharing some parts of my personal life. Not because I am scared if people will like it but because sometimes I will seem vulnerable when something goes wrong in my life or like I have nothing better to do. So I usually share when I have something really really important.