I Get So Angry When I Open LinkedIn!

Recently I saw some debate on what to post on LinkedIn versus other social media platforms. The discussion was specific to what was appropriate one platform versus another.

?The platforms over the past 16 months have all really started to act and feel the same when posting thoughts or discussion points. The line between personal and work life has never been more caught at the intersection. Take the fact that 30+ million are still unemployed, our home office is now our podcast studio, our video broadcast center and voice to the world.

There is a difference on what we post and what we consume. Both we can control, and both are important for our own personal mental health.

One thing is true no matter what you think is appropriate or not, our reaction to what we see is most important. These are our own personal curated feeds. We should be in charge of what we see and how we feel.

Let me explain…

Did you know that you can curate your social media to provide an experience that brings you joy & happiness? I know it sounds crazy, but it's true.

How to know you need to make a change: Anytime you open an app - you see a post, or thread from someone - it makes you upset or creates angst.

I'll give you an example...

LinkedIn: My utilization of this platform has not changed much in the past 5-6 years. I have shared my life experiences as they relate to my professional life and visa-versa. How a divorce made me reevaluate work life balance. How a bankruptcy made me a better money manager. How starting a business & losing everything taught me the importance of calculated risk taking. This has allowed me to connect with others who have been through a similar journey. Other professionals know we are not alone in this path we call a career, and there is no wrong or right choice when it comes to our own personal experiences. We are human and that is okay.

Facebook: I have unfriended, not unfollowed hundreds of people during the pandemic. Why? Because when I would see posts of hate, anger or topics against my moral compass It made me upset. So I chose to remove them. Not snooze, I remove them. If you act in a way during questionable times, I can only imagine how you would act when things are under better circumstances. My rule is pretty simple. Live a life of building, supporting and understanding others.

Instagram: I unfollowed anyone that doesn't create visually compelling content. I follow artists, painters, graffiti artists, tattoo artists, photographers, film makers & creators. When I open my feed it's filled with beautiful images and graphic stories that make me smile and feel inspired. Visual inspiration is important to me on many levels.

Twitter: This is the only platform that I invite the angst and difference of opinions. I do this on purpose. I follow all kinds of people with various thoughts, political views and global standings. I know when I head to Twitter - I am going to see it all. I am prepared for that when I click the icon.

NO NO NO! You can't do that... Actually you can.

The argument against this is that I am filtering a world that is not honest or is only one sided. Guess what, it is my experience and people that say that are not responsible for my mental health or in paying my bills.

I gather news from various places and different outlets to keep a non bias approach to world views. Yet when it comes to social media, I am looking for something different, and that is okay.

I invite you to join me.

Cheers,

Kolby