The False Promise of Eternal Love:
Believing that a social network won’t affect you is like believing in the fairy tale of eternal love. It’s a childish idea that ignores the complexity of human relationships, both in the real world and in the virtual one. Saying “once I have a partner I won’t have any problems anymore” is like believing that finding the ideal person will free you from all your insecurities and worries.
The Trap of Dependency:
Just like in a romantic relationship, dependence on social media makes us vulnerable. We worry about the opinions of others, we seek their approval, and we feel hurt when we don’t get it. However, we forget that external validation is not the only valid option.
Facing Vulnerabilities:
- Pain and truth: If a criticism hurts us, it may have a grain of truth. Sometimes these comments confirm our deepest fears, the ones we don’t know how to face.
- Paranoia vs. reality: Do people really constantly think about attacking us? No. Most likely, their comment is not intended to hurt us. However, if it touches a sensitive fiber, we may feel hurt. It is our responsibility to learn to manage that impulse and protect our ego.
- Personal interpretation: The meaning we give to a comment is our responsibility. Not all opinions are 100% true. We must be able to analyze them objectively and discern what is valuable and what is not.
Responsibility and Self-knowledge:
- Responsibility: We have 100% responsibility for understanding what hurts us, why, and how to work on it.
- Self-knowledge: It is vital to identify the people we can talk to about our emotions and seek professional help if we need it.
Blaming vs. taking responsibility:
How many people have we lost by blaming them for our problems? Phrases like “It’s because you said…” or “It’s because you didn’t defend me…” are signs that we are evading our responsibility.
Who do we fall in love with?:
It is time to ask ourselves: What or who have we “fallen in love with” that makes us victims? What tasks, people, or roles lead us to blame others?
A deeper love:
If we are looking to “fall in love” to solve our problems, we must focus on a process of personal transformation. We must become self-confident people who do not need to cling to a preconceived notion of themselves in order to recognize their worth.
In conclusion:
Social networks, like any relationship, can be a source of joy and connection. However, it is crucial to be aware of their effects on us and to develop the ability to manage our emotions and relationships in a healthy way. Only then can we build a fulfilling and meaningful life, both in the virtual and real worlds.
By: Nestor Castillo, ForAllTechNews Director