If you're posting on social media just to get something back, disappointment is only a scroll away.
“Approval is the tax you pay on mediocrity. All the energy spent chasing likes and approval comes at the cost of real work. The paradox is that those who stop performing for an audience often end up with the biggest one.” - Shane Parrish
“ Social media has always been fake. An exaggerative place for flexing and posturing. But now that fakeness is automated and scalable. Genuine connection is the new ultimate luxury.” - Justin Welsh
Social Media Isn’t a Scoreboard for Your Worth
You never know what battles someone is fighting behind the screen.
- Maybe they’re limiting time online for their mental health.
- Maybe the algorithm buried your post.
- Maybe they just didn’t see it.
Either way, their lack of engagement likely has nothing to do with your value.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” - Dalai Lama
Engage Authentically, or Don’t Bother
I've seen creators grow resentful over followers who didn’t engage “enough.”
One instance? A content creator got upset with a follower for not liking their posts… only to later learn that person was intentionally offline, tending to their own mental well-being.
That’s a powerful reminder: real connection is rooted in empathy, not expectation.
- Don't engage just to get something in return.
- Don’t perform kindness hoping it will be reciprocated.
If you give freely and honestly, your impact may not be instant, but it will be lasting.
Ponder This
- Are you creating for connection, or for applause?
- What expectations do you subtly convey to your audience?
- What might change if you viewed every interaction as a gift, not a transaction?
Books/Newsletters
- The Art of Happiness – Dalai Lama & Howard Cutler
- FS: Brain Food - Shane Parrish
- Unsubscribe - Justin Welsh
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