In today’s world, it is so easy to project yourself over social media. Whether it be through Twitter, Instagram, etc., you let others view only what you want them to see. You simply mold your image to your liking. We all experience pain and we all experience happiness. Although my journey may be different than yours, we all want to be successful and to live a happy life.
No one knows your true day-to-day struggles, and they most certainly haven’t walked in your footsteps. It is so easy to hide behind a computer screen and voice your opinion. What is more difficult is being able to respect and love others despite a difference in opinion. Seeing successful people post pictures on social media can be intimidating and discouraging. In many cases, it seems easier to throw hate and backlash towards those we find ourselves in competition with. We think that our words and negative energy will rub off on them, in hopes that their situation more closely resembles ours.
How will creating negative energy towards others help our situation? It won’t.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. -Ephesian 4:29
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. -Ephesians 4:31-32
Everyone has different milestones in their life and just because a friend or colleague may appear to be more “successful”, it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a plan for you because He does. Just as Christ builds us up, so should we unto others. We should be imitators of God.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. -Ephesians 5:1-2
One of the biggest lessons I have learnt (and are still continuing to learn) is that I must be slow to anger and abundant in love. It is better to think about the outcome of a situation rather than regretting what was said. Every day is a gift and a new start. We have the power to choose our own happiness– no one can take that from us. God has blessed us with so much, so why waste it? Great health, food, shelter, clothes, and access to transportation are a few of the many things we take for granted in this world. There are thousands of people dying from malnutrition and yet we sit here and think that bashing others will do anything to help out our situation. Words are powerful and they can either build someone up or they can just as easily bring them down. It is up to YOU to decide the outcome.
