Be Your Own Influencer.
In today's world, we're inundated with information, opinions, and images designed to make us want more than we have—to be thinner, younger, and more successful. Being dissatisfied with your current circumstances puts you in a place of not enough—a scarcity mindset.
Social media targets our wants and desires more than ever, with influencers telling us our lives could be better if we did this or bought that. It's insidious. It creeps up on you, and we're suddenly unhappy with our home, hands, or pots and pans. We desperately need something seemingly life-changing we didn't know about two weeks ago.
We live in a 24/7 world. Recently, I had an awakening to my own influencer infiltration. By that, I mean social media personalities' subtle but powerful influence and their content on our self-perception. I let the devil in through the pearly gates of my subconscious. I didn't even see it coming; it was a slow burn. It's like inviting a persuasive salesperson into your home, and before you know it, you're buying things you didn't even know you wanted.
One of my goals is to limit my consumption and not buy more than I need. I want to be a responsible steward of my money and the planet, yet I "required" extra supplements, creams, and hair removal products.
We’re all susceptible to subconsciously slipping down a rabbit hole by letting scarcity and dissatisfaction in our noggins. It's crucial—especially in today's world, with all the external inputs trying to sell us on something better—that you consciously choose for yourself. Decide what you need from a place of love and compassion, not dissatisfaction.
Five sure-fire ways to be your own influencer:
1. Make a gratitude list. When you feel a lack of jealousy, express gratitude for the abundance around you. This simple act can bring a profound sense of peace and contentment, reminding you of your gifts in this moment.
2. Meditation. We talk about this a lot because it works. Take time out to center yourself however that looks for you. Take a walk in nature or on the mat, and find space to listen, not to a podcast—but to your inner voice.
3. Take personal inventory and release the need for external "things." Purposely say nice things to yourself. Look in the mirror and be kind. Find things you can complement yourself on—from your teeth to the great job you did on that presentation. This practice of self-compassion can foster a deep sense of self-love and acceptance.
4. Give yourself a cooling-off period. Before you click 'find out more' or 'buy now,' put the phone down and ask yourself, Will I use it? Do I need it, and what purpose will it serve? Will I feel good about this purchase in 30 days? How will I feel when I get the CC statement? This cooling-off period gives you time to decide based on facts rather than making an impulse buy you might regret later.
5. Ask yourself if you’re doing this from a place of gratitude and love or scarcity and fear. The answer might surprise you! Most of my impulse buys stem from an old pattern of scarcity. If I take a moment to analyze my purchase, the truth is I'm filling a void. It's a fear-based response to an old story of lack. Instead of purchasing, I might decide to "do the work", which involves acknowledging and addressing these feelings of lack, and rewrite the story of scarcity to say I am enough and have everything I need.
If you still want to purchase XYZ after these exercises, it's likely something you'll use and feel good about buying. If you make an impulse purchase, you might feel bad about your choice, which enforces your sense of scarcity. Now, you have another thing you don't necessarily need or want, and you spent money you could have used for something you need or want later.
Being your own influencer means validating yourself, deciding instead of abiding, and not allowing others to tell you how you feel about what you have or how you look. It's time to take a stand and live on your terms. You choose what's enough for your life and how you feel in your skin.
