Get into the habit of asking yourself, “Does this support the life I’m trying to create?” I read this quote and it really resonated with me, so much so that I decided to write about it. I have been talking to several people lately about where/how people spend their time on social media. How it affects you either good or bad. I think you can apply this thought process to so many areas in your life, but let’s address the social media aspect first. It seems like where ever you turn scroll, there is some “influencer” trying to prove that you need this new bag, or try this new diet supplement (knowing damn well they don’t take it), or whatever avenue of something they are selling that you NEED! I am all for someone spreading the word of something that is great and that will really improve your life (and even getting paid for it)! But be sure that it is promoting you in a manner that you need. Be sure that you truly NEED it and it is supporting you in some way. Don’t get lost in the social media craze of some hyped-up product that does nothing but drain your bank account and beef up someone else’s.  If you buy something an “influencer” is promoting, be sure that it is someone you can trust to give you, their honest opinion and that you have like-minded preferences. I have seen people on social media that I love and trust what they say about a product (they give the good, the bad and the ugly) but we do not participate in the same hobbies/interests. So, I really don’t NEED what they are selling. But likewise, I found a beauty blogger on Instagram… she introduced me to my new favorite ponytail holders. I know, its trivial… but I have heavy, thick hair! It’s a miracle that I found something that will actually hold a high ponytail on me. ALL. DAY. She has thick hair, so our needs aligned. These aspects of social media really just skim the surface. There are so many more damaging places that you really need to be sure you pay attention and only allow the things in that support you and the life you live. There are so many aspects of bullying that plaster social media. We wonder why the suicide rates are up, but we don’t realize where our noses are buried on a daily basis, may just hold the key to that. I see it everywhere. You see “political bullies” everywhere now days. Pushing their thoughts, ideals, and beliefs on those around them. I don’t care what side of the fence you fall on, because you see it from all sides. I see responses that people make to a comment someone made, that are vial. I just can not fathom what goes on in someone’s head that would cause them to spew such hatred to or about someone that they do not know based on a comment they made on a social media post. And sometimes they are little things. You wonder why children are so good at bullying?!? They learned from the masters… adults! They see what we do and how we do it. Limit your exposure to these types of places and situations… if nothing else, avoid the comment section, lol.

That was a much lengthier thought than I had anticipated it to be, but I digress! Let’s move on to other aspects you should apply this mantra to! When you are looking at a deal on these shoes that you have been dying to have ask yourself, “Does this support where I am headed?” Maybe you are trying to payoff a credit card or revamp your style or clean out your already busting at the seams, closet. Will purchasing this item further along your goal? If not, leave the shoes! That “Ouch” only lasts a second. But the interest on the credit card… that will last much longer. If it is something you truly want, and it aligns with your true, ultimate goals… BUY THE SHOES! But be honest with yourself in the look at what you are doing. That moment of “happiness” with something materialistic, can often times be just that… a moment! If things are not aligning with your ultimate goals and the life you are planning, the happiness with it does not last. This goes hand-in-hand with the social media issues. Did you buy something because you saw it on social media and had to have it? Well it probably will not keep you happy for long. Think about that before buying it.

The last place I would say to look (or at least for this post) would be people/relationships. Don’t stay in any sort of relationship that does not support you in a healthy way. This goes for friendships, romantic relationships and business relationships. You tend to pour most of your time into your significant other and your work relationships the most, so those are the two I would be very mindful with, with your friendships following close behind as you lean on one another for so many things. You want to make sure the relationships that you are maintaining align with your ultimate goals and where your life is heading. If your friends only want to party and go out every night and you are trying to make steps to better yourself find/keep/maintain a better job and plan for a successful future… it may be time to add some new friends into the mix. I am not saying to throw your friends to the wayside but adding in a mix of what you need, for where you are, will help you to accomplish your goals much more efficiently. Likewise, if your partner is a saver and you are a spender… your goals are not aligning. One of you will need to assess and make some changes! I think the one relationship we allow to trample us the most is our business relationships. I think often we allow people to say or do things that is damaging because “we need our job” mentality gets in the way. This does not pertain to basic work conflicts… because everyone has those at some point and time. This goes towards something that runs much deeper. If you have situations where there is a clear bias against you, personality conflicts that cause major problems or a place where the situations you are regularly put into are dangerous/upsetting. That should not be tolerated, and it does not align with where you are headed with your life/future. If there is a constant unsettled feeling or sense of unhappiness with any of these areas, relationships need to be re-evaluated. This does not mean to automatically terminate things, but it does mean there needs to be changes made. Sometimes that can be done with a conversation and sometimes it takes a lot more elbow grease to work things out and get everyone on the same page. But there will definitely need to be some changes made.

I love when I find something that can seem so innocent and it spirals into this truly thought-provoking lesson for me. This quote did exactly that. I could have written about 10 pages on other things that fall in line with this topic… but you would probably get bored reading this. So instead I decided to summarize my crazy thoughts in a few short paragraphs.