Using Social Media & Staying Sane

Surrendering the toxic atmosphere

As an indie author, marketing takes as much time as actual writing. I’m also on a low-to-no budget, so I post a bit on social media. Like most, it’s easy to get caught up in scrolling.

I love a funny meme. I rejoice at a celebratory announcement. I pin a good recipe. I re-post author content to encourage and help readers find them.

I also see toxic posts.

Most of my social media bios state I’m Kingdom Minded. To me that says I’m not just a Christian. I’m definitely not religious. It’s an accountability of sorts that puts it out there I’m about my Heavenly Father’s business. When the world looks around, I want to look up. In fact, I want my perspective to be His.

It’s hard because I’m human.

It’s near impossible because I’m active on social media.

With my life intertwined with Christ and His ways, it’s a safe bet to say I’m conservative. The Bible is my guide. It does not mean I hate those who sin differently than I do. I don’t direct message people news clips and Scriptures to tell people they are wrong and I’m right. I believe we can agree to diagree.

But I do have a box I check to keep my sanity.

Unfollow.

Since 2016 my feed filled with hate over the election and the president. Funny content I can somewhat understand but people from all economic and educational backgrounds toss civility aside and share pure hate.

And thanks to the Constitution, they can do that. It doesn’t mean I have to read it.

Please understand I don’t unfollow every person who doesn’t agree with me. I love that we have free will and I’m all for healthy discussion. But wishes of harm, trolling, and the like aren’t good for the poster or the reader.

And you don’t have to digest that.

When I unfollow on FB, the other person doesn’t know. They still receive my content, which on FB is mostly author-y stuff or funny memes. If they are encouraged by my work, yay. But I don’t hover over the keyboard ready to blast the other side.

I will say on X I re tweet political things. That’s a social media I don’t see a lot of return on investment so it’s more a personal engagement than marketing tool. I don’t think I post hateful things but if I’ve found a statement that rings true and the other side might not know, I will share it. But my heart is never to hate. Most of the RT’s are regarding children and their safety. I know way too much about our country’s dark secrets about this, from sea to shining sea, and from the teacher to DC. I advocate for those who don’t have a voice and I’m passionate about that.

Here we are again in a countdown to an election. There have been debates, candidate changes, and lots of soundbites. I don’t worship any candidate. I do have my choice locked in. You plan to vote the other way? I might not understand it but I respect the process as long as it’s on the up and up.

But the vicious posts filled with expletives? The wishes put out there against candidates or their followers on either side? People. Do better.

I’m at a place where my mental health matters. I’m not willing to sacrifice it. If I’m being mistreated time and time again, that person or content won’t have access to me. My vocabulary isn’t perfect but I don’t understand why profanity, strong profanity needs to be at the heart of social media. Maybe it’s passion but I have that as well, and my posts don’t have that kind of language. I want my content to matter. And when you see so much vulgarity, I don’t know about you, but I tune out.

Maybe this is just me. It’s my surrender journey and it’s okay if I ride alone. But if you’re on either side of the political process and you’re triggered by the hate that’s out there, unfollow. If you have to unfriend, go there. Don’t make a big deal about it. Move forward. If you have to shut it down altogether, I get it. I believe God is a provider. If marketing and social media are part of your life, I trust God will take care of you if you have to shut that part off. He has all the resources. I believe He’ll connect you in other ways.

Each post I share a chocolate mention. My daughter-in-law is making breads/cookies/chocolate-covered pretzels and I bought banana chocolate chip bread. So moist. That’s a perfect fall bread to me, and the chocolate just melts in my mouth. How about you? Do you have a favorite bread that uses chocolate chips?