A short time ago I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone and took on something new, well new to me, Instagram. I was very apprehensive about posting pictures publically and feared getting daft or cheeky comments .Such a silly thing to be bothered about really, as what it would matter I could always have deleted any if they did arise? My conscious mind knew that but the inner me was still a bit concerned that I might well get my feeling hurt.
Well eight months on and I can honestly say that I have found it to be a truly inspiring and uplifting experience. I think that I actually have started to view my surroundings in a different way, by looking to see the beauty in everything. I have seen many, many amazing pictures from around the world that I would have missed out on seeing had I not joined and made friends with people from all corners of the globe. The support and care shown to me throughout this new learning process has also been quite exceptional.
All a fantastic learning experience for me but it is the knock on effect of this supportive environment that has had perhaps the biggest impact upon me. I find now that when I watch the news and feel rather down with all the anger and sadness in it, instead of ruminating on the things I cannot change I change my focus from negative to positive by going to Instagram and view the world again from a different and for me more constructive standpoint. Or, I go out in to my own environment to reconnect and remind myself of the things that give me joy and energy. I can then take a quick pictures to store in my phone for a quick” pick me up” whenever needed and post it on the site in the hope that it will give the same positive lift to others also.
I am sure as everything in life has an opposite that there must be negative and draining people on the site also, but I have not met them. It no longer would worry me if I did, as they can only exist in my world if I give them permission to and I have no intention of doing that.
I guess it is looking at the glass half full or half empty. In order for me to have the personal energy to actually go and do something about the things that I care about, I need to have my internal energy batteries fully charged up. Listening to and viewing only negative things drains me and makes me feel powerless to do anything to help facilitate change. However, when I go on and connect to such a tremendous positive energy source it helps me to see how much more constructive people actually can be and renews my faith in my and every other person’s ability ,should they choose to use it, to be able to change things around and make their world a better place to be. As Mother Teresa once said “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the Ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
If you have been sitting for too long in your comfort zone as I was, perhaps it is time to stretch yourself a little. Push yourself to learn something new or just go out and, meet new people and expand your horizons. Every little positive thing that you can do in your life can make a much bigger impact than you would at first think possible. Don’t take my word for it, go try it and see.