Once upon a time… I loved social media.
It was back in 2008, when both Facebook and Twitter were my water cooler. The place I would go to take a break from the isolation of my creative process. A place I could rub elbows and shoot the breeze with other human beings for a while.
In those days, social media was fun.
It felt like a big online party where I could meet a variety of interesting people, share ideas, discover something new, chat about whatever, and share any thought, feeling, insight or silliness that popped into my head.
But all of that came to a screeching halt once I started using social media for my business… and other entrepreneurs started to do the same.
I stopped being so incredibly transparent and started sharing only that which seemed acceptable and appropriate for a credible business owner to share. And as other business owners did the same, the entire scene became a congested, crowed pit of too much information and too many people screaming for attention, clicks, opt-ins, comments, likes and shares.
And the conversations? They became shallow, guarded and boring.
Social media stopped being fun. It became a chore.
Now, when I look at my Facebook or Twitter feed, I go brain dead and emotionally numb. I know I’m supposed to participate and “be visible,” because all the marketing experts tell me so. And in truth, I actually want to. But as I stare at my feed, the only thoughts going through my head are:
“What could I possible say, share, or contribute to this clutter of words that would make a difference?”
“What could I possibly add that hasn’t been said before? And been said better by some other entrepreneur or copywriting genius?
“Why participate unless I can add something meaningful or mind-blowing to the mix?”
I mean, it’s already so flippin’ noisy online. Why add to the din?
Then… I got an email from one of my heroines, Alexandra Franzen.
And instantly, my social-media-resistant brain softened, opened and let in a little light.
Reading Alexandra’s post, I realized there is a reason to speak up and share, whether it’s on social media or some other form of communication. And that reason is this: what I have to contribute matters.
Even if what I contribute has been said by twenty thousand other people in forty thousand other ways. Even if I think it doesn’t matter, it does. Because my voice, my message, may be the one that someone can hear that day.
As Alexandra Franzen reminds me, you never know who’s listening. Or how your words, your voice, your insight, your intention will impact another.
“If you write something and share it — and your words help one human being to experience a better day, or a better life — then your work is a tremendous success.
And also,
You never, ever know how your words might influence someone else’s life.”
— Alexandra Franzen
Alexandra’s email made me realize that the point isn’t to come up with something breathtakingly brilliant, creative or earth-shaking to share.
The point is to show up and share, period.
Because you just never know how your very presence, whether it’s online or in person, may shape someone’s day. Or even someone’s life. You never know how your words may touch, move, tickle, uplift or change someone.
You just never know.
There are many days when I look at my Facebook feed and I’m either unwilling or unable to come up with anything of value to say or share. The most I can do is show up every morning and post “Good morning, Sugar Plums!” and leave it at that.
While I love greeting my virtual friends and followers in this way, it feels small, feeble. And not enough.
Yet recently someone told me how much he loves those silly morning greetings. That those greetings make him smile and see the day in a different way.
So, let me ask you… do you sometimes hold back and decide not to say something or share something because you think it doesn’t matter… or that you’ve got nothing of value to share… or that no one gives a rat’s ass?
If so, listen to me now.
Your voice, your truth, your you-ness and your willingness to share it all openly, bravely, loudly, softly… have the power to change lives.
Including your own.
Because by owning your voice and sharing your truth, you liberate yourself from idiotic thoughts like, it doesn’t matter, I don’t matter, no one cares. And you claim your creative power and influence as an entrepreneur and as a human being.
When you stifle your voice or choose not to express yourself, you not only deprive the person for whom your words may be medicine, you commit a quiet violence against yourself. A violence that seems excusable, even insignificant at the time. But over time can crush your spirit, chip away at your self-worth, and obliterate your awareness of your unique brilliance.
I’m not saying that you have to start posting like crazy on social media. Or start blogging every week. Or start a public speaking career. Or become some obnoxious, outspoken loud mouth who won’t shut up at dinner parties. Nor am I saying that you should to share every wayward thought that enters your mind.
I’m simply saying that your voice, your message, and your smallest impulse to share are to be honored, indulged and celebrated. Not shushed. For who you are and what you’ve got to share are of enormous value. Not just to those who are might be uplifted, amused, inspired or saved by your words. But to you.
Speak up. Be heard. Share you. As much of you as you dare to reveal.
And I’ll do the same.