"mimetic desire doom loops" is the most perfectly turned phrase 👌🏻 Also, your list of tips is excellent. I had to get off Instagram. It frankly felt diabolical to me. Immediately after logging on I'd become dissociated with the real, tangible goodness in my life and I'd start hungering for an illusion. The worst envy and resentment I experienced was always directed towards wealthy Catholic influencers. Their advice was often good and well-intended but when they're giving prayer tips accompanied by a picture of them wearing a $200 dress, well it plays upon my insecurities terribly and stirs up all kinds of uncharitable thoughts. My psyche is so much better when I stay off social media and go to those who have eschewed wealth and notoriety (like the desert fathers and mothers) for spiritual advice.
I can't do Instagram anymore either — never once did I feel more at peace after having been on it. Totally echo what you said about Catholic influencers. While I know Christians are called to evangelize the culture, it is hard to know when the Instagram culture is evangelizing you more than you are influencing it.
What a thought-provoking post. Lots of truth in here. It's as though feeling proud of one's own accomplishments is thought to be denigrating another's, or as making a judgment of their choices, but I don't see that as being true. It's okay to just feel proud of something you've accomplished. Period. (And I do feel proud of pushing out 2-10 plus pound babies with no pain meds.!)
This is so wonderful to read. I stopped offering disclaimers a while ago, and I just feel like it had released me of so much pressure and expectations. No ones good news or joy or happiness is an affront to suffering or pain, especially my own. We all do so much better if we can grasp this. Thank you.
Absolutely have noticed this as well w regard to motherhood-related things specifically. Really frustrating and feels very anti-woman😔
"mimetic desire doom loops" is the most perfectly turned phrase 👌🏻 Also, your list of tips is excellent. I had to get off Instagram. It frankly felt diabolical to me. Immediately after logging on I'd become dissociated with the real, tangible goodness in my life and I'd start hungering for an illusion. The worst envy and resentment I experienced was always directed towards wealthy Catholic influencers. Their advice was often good and well-intended but when they're giving prayer tips accompanied by a picture of them wearing a $200 dress, well it plays upon my insecurities terribly and stirs up all kinds of uncharitable thoughts. My psyche is so much better when I stay off social media and go to those who have eschewed wealth and notoriety (like the desert fathers and mothers) for spiritual advice.
I can't do Instagram anymore either — never once did I feel more at peace after having been on it. Totally echo what you said about Catholic influencers. While I know Christians are called to evangelize the culture, it is hard to know when the Instagram culture is evangelizing you more than you are influencing it.
What a thought-provoking post. Lots of truth in here. It's as though feeling proud of one's own accomplishments is thought to be denigrating another's, or as making a judgment of their choices, but I don't see that as being true. It's okay to just feel proud of something you've accomplished. Period. (And I do feel proud of pushing out 2-10 plus pound babies with no pain meds.!)
This is so wonderful to read. I stopped offering disclaimers a while ago, and I just feel like it had released me of so much pressure and expectations. No ones good news or joy or happiness is an affront to suffering or pain, especially my own. We all do so much better if we can grasp this. Thank you.