Times Of Swaziland: DIGITAL WORLD TELLS US WHO TO BE, WHAT TO WANT

DIGITAL WORLD TELLS US WHO TO BE, WHAT TO WANT
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Editor on 30/05/2023 08:15:00


Sir,
Many people are trying to fit in, be liked and be accepted by other human
beings. So as a result what they present on their social media profiles has
become a mere presentation of who they think they should be than reflections of
who they really are. Living  in a society that values and strives for perfection
and defines success by the amount of money people have in their bank accounts
and not by how well they live their values every day. Because of societal
expectations and standards people are constantly balancing inner and outer
aspects of themselves in order to better fit in, to become successful or to find
love.
Driven
Most people are driven to find their place in society and they want to be
respected for who they truly are and what they have to contribute. Many people
have a desire to know and live their purpose, to find deeper meaning in their
lives and to feel the fulfillment that comes with becoming a more authentic
person. The background is also a hinder because human beings were molded or
raised as children by their parents, care givers, teachers, religions, peers and
society to fit in. As a result they develop beliefs, thoughts, emotions and
behaviorus that keep them acting in the ways they were taught to act not in the
ways that make them feel like their authentic selves. Being authentic also
benefits your mental health especially because being your true self is a bedrock
of well-being.
Purpose
It is correlated with self-esteem, purpose, vitality and also the ability to set
and accomplish goals. It is also linked to coping skills that allow people to
navigate life’s challenges in healthy ways rather than resorting to
self-destructive habits such as drugs and alcohol abuse. It is also related to
mindfulness which refers to being aware of one’s experiences without judgment.
Practicing mindfulness leads people to think differently and become ,more
observed, accepting and capable of change. From what I have personally observed
especially through social networks/media and those around me, I would say that
people are not living life as their authentic selves. There is what they call
‘the adaptive self’ in psychology, where by the self prioritises fitting in,
getting along and generally doing what you are told or what is expected of you.
Adapting
You find yourself in a situation where you are constantly adapting yourself to
fit in. As an individual you shouldn’t let other people’s expectations limit
who you are especially because what others expect of you is a reflection of who
they are, their own wants and needs, who they want you to be so you can be part
of their life. There are a number of hindrances to mastering the art of being
your true self. The digital world tells us who to be, what to want and how we
should express ourselves. All these influences are slowly chipping away at our
ability to be our authentic selves. People’s identity on social media
sometimes departs from what they view as their true self or the self they are
when offline.