Social Media has become a weapon for the modern world. It is everywhere we look. It’s embedded in our culture. Don’t believe me look down at your smart phone. Look at buses, subway platforms, store fronts, corporations. Everybody’s doing it.

It can be used for good, bad and in between. Social media is defined as:

“forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and micro-blogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos)”

Social media is a bubble and it is only continuing to expand and evolve. Social media really made its first appearance in my life back in the days of My Space and Live Journal, yes I remember those days. I was in undergrad right at the beginning of the world of Facebook. It was slowly being released to more and more colleges and universities. Slowly it became widespread and everybody was talking. 

Social media is and can be empowering and freeing. With social media we own full control of what we choose to share with the external world. We pick and choose what of our lives we want to share. My relationship with social media is what I would call a love/hate relationship, although in my opinion hate is a tad on the stronger side of the spectrum. Social media is shifting our connectivity on a massive scale. It is impacting the way we can not only foster relationships, do business, it has allowed anyone (with internet) the ability to reach out on a massive scale and connect.

Want to dominate? Simple. There’s a dot-com waiting for you to own. There’s probably an app, a community, a something for it. Social media allows us to be present with an unknown world. It connects us on a world-wide level. 

Some of the What’s Good?

-the ability to put yourself out there
-the chance for your words, your opinion to have an outlet
-the possibility of new partnerships, business boom, friendship, self expansion
-freedom {of speech}
-instant gratification. instant response. instant connection. instant downloads
-collaboration + unity

Some of the What’s Bad?

-heightens our chance of getting sucked down a hole of comparing games
{i.e. “everybody’s getting engaged”, “look at how booming their biz is”, “I wish I had the life of lux / exotic vacation spots”, “How do I get that many likes, follows, RTs, etc.”, and so forth}

-Somehow degrades/lessens “in person” engagements
{Am I the only one that really digs brick + mortar / mom + pop shops}

-The world wide web/social outlets have a tendency of following us everywhere
{Ever pause on a subway or on a street and notice how everyone is looking down at their smart phone? Whatever happened to just being, just sitting? Awkward? I dare you to try sitting on a subway or walking around without your phone at the ready}

-It has turned us into even more instant/quick quick type of people
{I wonder how people would deal with a little slower of a response or waiting on a letter via snail mail or waiting on that “download” to come in the mail as a package} 

I am thankful for social media, truly. It has aided in my self growth journey. It has helped me to step out. It has brought me in connection with not just clients but some of my very best friends. Yes. Come to think of it the majority of the people in my inner circle are all founded through the internet. Yet when we talk, meet up, Skype, etc. you would never tell. I am thankful for social media.

It would be a difficult world to live without it but it is also important to stay present, fully. Choose your weapons. Choose your outlets, there are many out there and it is easy to get social media over whelmed. Connect on the sites/communities that feel right for you. You don’t have to be on everything.

Choose to step away.
Choose to go places and experience it before sharing it on Instagram
Choose to cultivate real friendships, real relationships
Choose what you share, it’s your digital canvas – Paint it wisely and beautifully.

Don’t ever become dependent on your smart phone.
Don’t misrepresent yourself.
Don’t get swayed.

Social Media is a chance for so much and it, like us, is continuing to evolve.

Bottom Line. Be You.

And get out in freaking nature on occasion. Embrace the awkward feeling of not having a phone to pop out. Write a letter every once in awhile. Go spark up a conversation with the small business owner in your neighborhood that is still extending smiles in a legit store. Or send a virtual note and choose to get to know the person, the real person, behind that social media profile. Chances are there is so much more to them beyond their online “wall”…There is a heartbeat on the other side of that monitor. Think about that. 

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This post is a part of The Social Media Consciousness Blog Project.

Social media has changed the way we connect. Can there be more #socialmediaconsciousness? Join the conversation. 

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I had the amazing opportunity to go out to Ojai, California for a spa getaway with one of my clients and good friends,

Now an important thing to note is I have not had the delight of visiting California before. I’ve been East. I’ve been South. I’ve lived in the Midwest but I have not gone to the West. Another thing to mention is that in a past astrology reading I was informed that I would most likely end up in the West coast. That was right when I was making my move to New York so I didn’t pay it much attention other than that’s intriguing. 

This was a trip for the memory books. It was the first real vacation I’ve taken for quite some time. By real I mean no working – at all. The universe seemed to agree as I lost cell phone service upon entering the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

For the first time in what feels like forever I accepted it. I enjoyed it. I didn’t feel guilty. I felt free.

Jill has officially become a guardian angel. I am so grateful. She has been a gift on so many levels. We not only share in our business management relationship but we share life on a whole. We are open with each other. We are honest with each other. We care for each other and best of all is we support each other. 

During this vacation of pure relaxation, good food, gorgeous scenery and laughter something inside of me shifted. I began to realize that this is possible. That our lives are meant to be enjoyed. We are meant to receive. In all capacities. We are taken care of on such a infinite level.

I am meant to receive because I deserve it. We all deserve it. Something broke free within me while sitting in a cabana poolside sipping spa water. I looked out at the mountains in the background, the vibrant blue sky, the shimmering pool and the bright sunlight and I felt expansive. I felt the Universe beaming through the scorching 95 degree heat. It was a breakthrough. It was the brightest A Ha.

This is life and life is unspeakably beautiful.

I did not come to fully believe this until that very moment. I’ve never believe I deserved it. I have never been expanded to fully receive.

The West expanded my soul.

When for most my life I have been contracted to so much. I’ve only dipped my toe into the water of true expansion. A part of me was still closed to the possibility. Call it silly but I believe this trip, this experience opened me.

In order to live the life you must let go. You must live. Release your shackles and fly. Allow yourself to being open. Allow and believe in the possibilities. Most of all believe that everything is already taken care of, truly. Be it my soul finally being ready to be opened, be it the trip, be it the company but I believe and trust. I’m shifted.

I am full. I am free. I am receiving.

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“One day, a long time from now you’ll cease to care anymore whom you please or what anybody has to say about you. That’s when you’ll finally produce the work you’re capable of.” -JD Salinger

Honesty time. I have spent countless years upon years worrying about what others think of me.

>How they perceive me.
>What do they say after meeting me?
>What is their first impression?
>Do they like me or is it just pretending to like me out of courtesy.

My mind would constantly be in motion. To attempt to try to ease this I attempted to try to make damn sure that I could fit in. I changed to meet others expectations. I silenced certain subjects and interests. I vocalized others. I would hide and chose to believe that it was better to stay silent than dare speak up and risk a negative response or risk someone not liking me. It was better to stay silent. Being in a constant state of worry + fear + constantly changing myself did not do anything.

The worry of what others thought? Even in silence and adapting to meet their needs that worry never went away. I am coming clean. I no longer give a fuck. Maybe just maybe after years of being called unique, a black sheep, quirky, and playing one too many games of trying to be the best damn actress I’m through. I take pride in being unique. It’s not something to be ignored or hidden. After all our differences and unique traits is what sets us apart in this big world. It is too much, too tiring and too draining to let yourself hide out. 

I’m a special soul – you are too.

You are good, seriously good the way that you are on a cellular level.
The world needs unique.
The world needs differences.  

Here’s the deal. I turn 28 end of the month. I’ve been on this spiritual - self growth – self evolutionary path for the past two years. I’ve tried just about everything to truly unravel and have attempted a multitude of things to get down to my core. I’ve seen movement. I’ve seen contraction. People that once were a huge part of my life pre and post entrepreneurship have left my life. I’m shedding. Shedding more so than I have since I began. Stories and patterns are rising at a full force. I’m truly, utterly expanding. Tears.

I’m decluttering. I’m detoxifying toxins on a whole other level. I’m releasing.

Turns out everything I’ve worked through, felt, released and expanded through thus far has just been baby steps. The biggest most basic most simple thing that I only now recognize is this –

everything you need everything you want everything is in you

Presence is everything. Not just with the external world but PRESENCE with you.

I’m done with worrying. I’m done with letting my mind wander to what someone may or may not think of me. Better, I’m done letting my mind wander about where I should be, what I should be doing, what I should be earning, what I should be focusing on. I’m done giving a fuck.

I choose to just be. To be in this very moment. Truly. Present. Because I am just where I need to be.

Because for the first time in this spiritual – self growth – entrepreneur journey I truly believe that everything is taken care of.

Stop worrying.
Stop planning + un-planning.
Stop thinking about what others may or may not think.

Start doing. Start living. Start breathing. Stop giving a fuck. 

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