For years, many people have tried to mimic those around them to portray a successful financial status. It’s easy to present a façade of a perfect life on social media when the reality is far from it. But the narrative quickly unravels with a single comment or action, because the heart never lies. Many act out their lives, but their biggest and most brutally honest witness—their own heart—knows the truth.
The reality is closer to home than ever, especially with the current economic situation. Pretense has become as costly as the items people buy on credit.
It used to be easy to post a birthday cake, a bunch of flowers, or outing pictures to validate an elevated status. We all want to impress others and compete to paint a picture of a happy, fulfilled life. We go to great lengths to prove a point, even when we’re struggling in reality.
Don’t be fooled by extended fake nails, expensive hair extensions and wigs. Don’t be taken in by labels on shoes and clothes, or by alcohol brands and other facades. Some people even skip bill payments just to maintain a certain lifestyle. Sooner or later, reality comes to bite.
I was watching YouTube the other day and saw so-called “power couples” on social media whose lives ended in tragedy. These are people who live for the public, updating them daily to amass likes, subscriptions, and views in the name of fame and fortune. The pictures they paint are of happiness and success. But beneath the smiles and picture-perfect posts lie tensions and dysfunction that are beyond comprehension. Most end in separation, divorce, or even death.
You don’t owe anyone an explanation for what you eat or wear. There’s no need to go into debt just to take your children to the same school others use. There’s no point in turning to crime to sustain a lifestyle beyond your means. Bragging isn’t all social media is for. Trust me, real emotions come out sooner or later. You can’t fool anyone—or yourself—for long. Normal conversations and interactions are allowed. Stop stressing over unrealistic posts. They will come back to bite you.
There are many reasons some turn to prostitution or begging. There are reasons many commit suicide. After all is said and done, we have ourselves to contend with. And when we can’t live as who we really are, we panic. Panic can be disastrous.
