Living Life Uninhibited
“Who takes Nicole’s pictures?”
“Why does she always post her outfits and travel?”
“Omg she posts so much”
“Does she live at Soul Cycle?”
“Nicole has a blog, she’s so basic”
"How long did it take for her to make that caption?"
It’s been 4 years since I started getting my groove with my blog and I’ve been happy with all the positive feedback. But with that feedback comes negativity. I’d be lying if I said the scrutiny hasn’t affected me in the past. As my networks grew, there was always a thought in the back of the mind that was afraid of what someone new would think when they saw me post on various platforms. What would they think of me? Would they think it’s cool? Would they judge me or think I’m crazy? I've heard comments from peers, classmates, and colleagues and while their initial comments stung for sure, overtime I learned that it should only fuel my fire even more than before and here’s why:
In an era that is so digital and real-time focused, I find it very interesting that so many folks are “scared” to try and be themselves on social media or even in real-life. It's easy to hide behind devices and make fun of those who put themselves out there with sincerity, and who let that sincerity show through the thought they put into their pictures/captions or what they’re doing with their lives and posting about it. Yet these same people showing disdain are out there doing the exact same and wanting to post like everyone else. I’ve had people make fun of my activity yet they’re the same ones snapping or go-proing from their getaway trips or checking in but still act “better than” because it doesn’t appear as if they tried? So why is it that the easiest thing to do is to put someone else down? Where does that projection stem from? Is it insecurity? Is it fear? Why is it still cool to put in less effort and the one who cares less "wins"?
There is a beauty to living life uninhibited. There is no safety for the exposed, no PR team cleaning up any messes, and nowhere left to hide from the world. Because there are risks when you put yourself out there, most manage those risks against more sufficient returns. While we can still be smart about how we interact with others, i.e. when we show our hand versus when we need to be cautious, the inhibitions I am talking about are simply internal struggles. When we can see our faults, and fears, as just a small part of the positive grand picture of who we are, we don’t get overwhelmed by a little exposure and a little embarrassment. In my opinion, I think this comes with age and maturity. Think of older people, they don’t seem to really give a sh*t about embarrassment any more, they start to really say what they mean.
Shaming someone for what they are passionate about isn’t the cool thing to do, there shouldn't be anything wrong with trying/caring/being more passionate about what you do with your free time and what makes you happy. Those who put you down themselves don’t have much to bring to the table and it's only to justify their own choices or insecurities so you should keep doing you even more right? (READ: YOU DO YOU BOO BOO). The positive energy you put out in the world, the effort you take to live a fulfilled life, and the encouragement you give to others to do the same defines your brand. What’s yours? What is it you’re passionate about? What is it that you want to share with the world that makes you, well, you? What’s your hustle? What’s your hobby? If you don’t have one, find one.
The more okay you are with developing yourself, the less sensitive you’ll be to other people’s opinions and how people perceive you. Every day, I wake up looking forward to the day, itching to get out there and indulge in all my guilty pleasures (and sharing them if it is insta-worthy, obviously) and I encourage others to do the same. It takes time for everyone to get to that point but once you get there, you truly feel like you’re on top of the world and the view is pretty damn nice from up here. **click, click**