Recently, I took a moment to reflect on all of the things that made me happy, and those that no longer did. Some of you may have noticed that I’ve disappeared off of Instagram lately. Today, I took the final step of deleting my account. Yeah, that’s right. I am now a blogger without Instagram (gasp!). I know, I know. What was I thinking?
It all came down to me realizing what in my life was making me happy. Instagram became an app that brought me anxiety and had me feeling a constant pressure to keep up with staying active and collecting likes. So, I got rid of it. Just like that. And you know what? I couldn’t be happier. Sometimes, what makes us happy might go against what we’re used to- but that might be just what we need.
Here are a few things I’ve learned about taking the time to do what makes you happy.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE INSTAGRAM WORTHY
As long as it makes you feel good, it doesn’t have to be trendy or cool. It doesn’t need 250 likes for it to be something of value. If it brings you true joy, you’ll be just as happy doing it without sharing it with the world as you would be posting it to social media.
I’m not saying don’t post it to social media- you should do whatever makes you feel good! All I mean is that if it brings you genuine happiness, you’ll never feel as though you have to do it for the ‘gram, you know?
REMEMBER WHY YOU STARTED
As with most things, there comes a point in time where we may need a small reminder of why we began it all. When I got caught up in my blog and Instagram, for a while all I could think about was the amount of likes I was getting, and how many more followers I needed to hit my goal mark.
Blogging had lost its charm for me. So, I thought back to why I started and realized that it never had anything to do with the amount of followers I had. We often start pursuing something because it makes us feel good. If you ever feel lost in your pursuit, think back to that feeling you had when you first started. It might just set you back on the path you were feeling so far away from. Trust yourself, your intuition knows you best.
COMPARISON WILL STEAL YOUR JOY
It’s a wonderful thing to be motivated to pour your heart and soul into something you love. Sometimes, the lines get blurred between doing what you love and being consumed with being the best. Comparison is the thief of joy. When we look at others and see their highlight reel, it’s too tempting not to look at our own with criticism. Let go of comparing yourself to others and focus on doing you.
SELF-CARE IS YOUR BIGGEST INVESTEMENT
Self-care is all the talk these days, but it’s here for good reason. When you invest in yourself, you’re investing in your relationships with those around you. The happier you are with yourself, the stronger and more fulfilling your relationships with others will be. Self-care is therefore beneficial to not only you, but to everyone in your life!
I put myself first and removed something I felt was becoming toxic in my life. Because of this, I have lost opportunities to work with brands due to no longer having an Instagram. This is just one example of what I’ve changed in my life to feel better, and I can honestly say it’s like a breath of fresh air. Certain losses may come with putting yourself first, but being happy is something worth making sacrifices for.
What makes you happy? What are your experiences with taking time for yourself to do what brings you joy? Share your experiences below!
