Mindful Sharing - Oversharing On Social Media

This is track 3 in social media series and addresses the other side of information exchange i.e. sharing.
Social media encourages sharing personal details about our lives with an audience size that is normally not privy to this information. If you feel like you may have over-sharing tendencies without proper intent in mind, this meditation is for you.
There is nothing wrong in allowing for a peek into your life from time to time. It's human nature to share experiences. It's how we bond.
But it's also healthy for us to take a step back and think about our intent as we learn to mindfully share.

Music is provided by Varun Shah, who in fact, requested for the creation of this series.

Transcript

Hi there.

If you struggle with oversharing on social media,

This meditation may be for you.

Oversharing can occur due to several reasons.

Personal insecurities,

Need for validation,

Social norms,

Or even from a need for emotional regulation.

This meditation aims to help increase self-awareness and walk you through an impulse check.

Go ahead and find a comfortable seated position and close your eyes.

Take a long,

Deep inhale and an even longer,

Deeper exhale.

Bring your attention to your facial muscles.

Begin to relax them.

Begin to notice if there's any tension you're holding in your neck,

Your shoulders,

Your belly,

And your hips.

Relax them if you can.

Let your arms and legs relax.

Notice if there's any discomfort you feel in them.

And take a moment to adjust your body into an even more relaxed state.

Bring your attention to your breath.

Notice how it feels in your nostrils,

The sound it makes,

The movement it creates in your body.

Do you notice your chest and belly rising up and falling back down?

Take a mental snapshot of how this relaxed state feels in your body.

Imagine that you're sitting down with your phone and you notice the urge to share something personal on social media.

Take a pause and acknowledge this feeling without any judgment.

This pause is an opportunity for you to choose how to proceed.

Take a few slow,

Deep breaths.

Inhale.

Notice your chest and belly rising up.

And exhale.

Let it go.

Think about why you want to share this information that you are about to share.

What do you hope to achieve from it?

What would you lose if you did not share it?

Would you be comfortable sharing this in person with someone?

If it passed this little self-check,

Go ahead and mindfully share what you intend to share.

This is sharing with intention and mindfulness.

Take a long,

Deep inhale and lengthen your spine.

And exhale.

Relax your body once again.

Continue with a few more deep breaths at your own pace.

Place your hand on your belly and feel the movement that your breath creates.

It's gentle and rhythmic.

Default to this relaxed state whenever you need a reflective pause.

You have this quick pause available to you at any time.

The next time you feel the urge to share,

Take this pause and engage with your breath.

Then mindfully choose your way forward.

Thank you for listening.