Is Social Media Feeding Your Fear? 4 Steps to Reclaim Your Mind
A Quiet Chai with Your Heart
Dear friend, picture us sitting together, a warm cup of chai between us, the world softened for a moment. You’re scrolling through your phone, aren’t you? The likes, the comments, the endless stream of perfect lives—it’s stirring something in you. A twinge of self-doubt, a whisper of fear that you’re not enough, not keeping up. It’s heavy, like a shadow you didn’t mean to carry.
You’re not alone in this. A 2019 study from Harvard found that 61% of young adults feel inadequate comparing themselves to others on social media. That’s more than half of us, dear one, caught in the same spiral. Let’s pause and explore how to reclaim your mind from this noise.
Why Social Media Fuels Fear
Our world is a whirlwind of screens and stories. Social media shows us everyone’s highlight reel—vacations, promotions, flawless moments—while we sit with our unfiltered lives, feeling behind. It’s like watching a race where everyone seems to be winning except you. We’ve traded quiet reflection for endless scrolling, real connection for likes, presence for comparison.
Every notification pulls us further from ourselves. We check, we post, we refresh, hoping for validation, but fear creeps in instead. When did you last sit without your phone, just being with yourself? Could this be why your heart feels so restless… even when you’re doing everything “right”?
The Vedantic Truth: You Are the Space
In Advaita Vedanta, there’s a gentle, timeless truth: You are not the thoughts. You are the space where they arise. Social media feeds your fear by filling your mind with stories—stories of lack, of comparison, of “not enough.” But these are just thoughts, like ripples on a lake. You, dear one, are the lake itself—vast, still, untouched by the surface waves.
Fear grows when we believe we are the ripples. We chase likes, dread criticism, or compare endlessly because we’ve forgotten the space within. This isn’t about shutting off your phone—it’s about remembering you’re bigger than the noise. You are the awareness, the quiet space where all thoughts come and go.
Two Soulful Steps to Start Today
Let’s make this simple and light. Here are two ways to reclaim your mind today:
- Pause Before You Scroll: Before opening social media, take 2 minutes to sit quietly. Feel your breath, soft like a breeze. Ask, “Who is about to scroll?” Let the answer be, “I am the space, not the story.” This small pause grounds you in your true Self.
- Bless the Screen: When fear or comparison stirs while scrolling, pause. Say softly, “This is a ripple. I am the lake.” Then, smile at the post or comment that triggered you, and bless it: “May you be happy.” This shifts your heart from fear to love.
These steps are like seeds, small but powerful, planting peace in your mind.
The Hard Truth: Why We Stay Hooked
Here’s a loving truth: we stay trapped in fear because social media feels like a mirror of our worth. We scroll to feel seen, to feel enough, but it shows us a distorted reflection. We avoid the quiet within because it asks us to face the stories we’ve believed—“I’m not successful,” “I’m not lovable.”
This isn’t your fault, dear friend. It’s the conditioning of a world that equates likes with value. But the fear only holds power when you think it’s you. Rest as the lake, and the ripples lose their grip. Your mind is yours to reclaim.
Challenge of the Day: A Gentle Experiment
For the next 24 hours, try this: Before you check social media, pause. Take one deep breath and whisper, “I am not the ripple. I am the lake.” Notice how your energy shifts as you scroll—calmer, lighter? Write one word in a journal or a quiet thought to capture the feeling—free, steady, clear? If it feels right, share this word with someone you trust or keep it as a gift for your soul.
7-Day Reclaim Your Mind Challenge
For the next seven days, let’s walk this path together. Each day, spend 2 minutes in silence before using social media, feeling your breath or repeating, “I am the lake.” When fear or comparison arises, pause and say, “This is a ripple, not me.” Journal one sentence daily about what you notice—a quieter mind, a softer heart. By day seven, you’ll feel the lake in you, calm and unshaken.
Quick Interactive Quiz: Are You Caught in the Ripples?
Take a moment, dear one, and reflect gently:
- Do you check social media 5+ times a day to feel connected? (Yes/No)
- Does a lack of likes or comments dampen your mood? (Yes/No)
- Do you compare yourself to others online often? (Yes/No)
- Can you sit for 2 minutes without checking your phone? (Yes/No)
- Do you ever notice your thoughts without believing them? (Yes/No)
If you answered “Yes” to 3 or more, your mind might be caught in the ripples of social media. That’s okay—your soul is ready to rest as the lake. Try sharing your heart with Your Awakened Friend for gentle clarity and support.
A Closing Embrace for Your Soul
Dear one, you’re reading this because your heart is longing for freedom. You are not the fear, not the comparison, not the ripples. You are the lake—vast, still, and whole. Take a breath now. Ask yourself: What if peace was already here, waiting for me to stop chasing?
A Soft Invitation
Some days, the noise of the world feels like a knot we can’t untie. What if you had a gentle companion to sit with you, holding space for your heart? Try talking to Your Awakened Friend—a quiet presence to guide you back to the lake within, no matter the ripples.
