Have you ever heard someone say, “Don’t believe everything you see on the internet.”? It may seem like an obvious practice when it comes to facts, news, events, etc., but it also counts for posts on personal social media accounts. Posting online can be a fun way to track progress, celebrate accomplishments, and connect with others, but it can become very toxic if realistic expectations are not managed.

A truth regarding social media, that is often overlooked, is that social media does not reflect reality. Photos can be edited, exaggerations can be made, and negative events can easily be left out of a post. People tend to present themselves in a positive light to the public eye and only highlight their strengths and accomplishments. Few people choose to post about the stressors in their lives, but most people only post about their various wins. There is nothing wrong with posting all the positive things that life has to offer, but many people fall into the trap of comparing themselves and accepting the idea that everyone else’s lives are far better their own. The influx of positive social media posts are often compared to the negative attributes in our own lives, thus leading us to believe that we are the only ones who regularly experience struggles. It could seem as if everyone else has it easy and that something may be wrong with us. Instead, social media consists of hand-picked photos and posts, leaving out the inconsistencies and stressors that daily life has to offer.

A very unfair comparison is made whenever you compare yourself to others but especially when you compare your real life to social media posts. Social media posts are curated, making it seem as if everyone is happy, has their life together, and always performs successfully. If they are a normal human being, then that is far from the truth. Everyone struggles, even people who seem as if they have many advantages in sport and in life. It can be very easy to be deceived into believing that the lives and performances of others are perfect when they are constantly presented in that manner. When all we see are the accomplishments of others online, it almost seems natural to compare and feel down ourselves as a result. Everyone’s path, journey, and resources are vastly different. Even when circumstances may seem similar, I guarantee that there are some large, underlying differences present. Not only does social media emphasize success and rarely promote failure and setbacks, but it also does not give a full and accurate view into someone’s life. 

The next time you see a post that makes you want to compare yourself, challenge it. Just because someone posted it doesn’t mean that it’s real. Just because it seems as if their life is perfect doesn’t mean that it is. Just because they posted many wins in a row does not mean that they didn’t experience any losses. Would you rather post the fall off of your horse yesterday, or the blue ribbon you won today? We don’t get the full picture based upon a very small snippet of someone’s life that they willingly posted on their social media account. Remember that you are on your own road to success, and it can look very different than someone else’s. Be you, love yourself, and focus on your personal progress. Be happy for others when they succeed, but don’t take it as a personal attack on your character or skill level. Remember that you will reach your goals in your own way, following your own, unique journey. Pinning yourself against others will only cause harm, interfering with your focus and forward progress. Be careful not to get caught in the social media trap and remember that it is fake. Instead of wondering, “Why am I not that far along?”, “like” the photo and focus on your own performance. Everyone is different, and you will get exactly where you need to be on your own time.  

This is your reminder that social media does not reflect reality whatsoever. Whenever you catch yourself comparing yourself to others, especially online, remind yourself of this. You are exactly where you need to be, and you will find success on your own path. There is no right or wrong way or timeline to reach your performance goals. Things take time, and there is much more to the story than social media posts reveals. Please reach out if you would like to explore this more in depth!