Have you ever met someone who was 100 percent satisfied with their life and their appearance?

Chances aren’t good—even the people you thought lead perfect, happy lives struggle with self-confidence. Beauty standards are constantly evolving, and whether these ideals are more inclusive of different forms of beauty or not, they affect every single person.

Studies from the National Center for Biotechnology Information show it is imperative for cancer patients to remain in high spirits and foster a positive outlook to encourage their bodies to heal. Just because someone is fighting cancer doesn’t mean their needs and desires to feel beautiful evaporate. Societal beauty standards hang over our heads like a storm cloud, and while on some days the sun may shine, other days may feel like we have been caught in a torrential downpour of self-doubt and deprecation.

From reflecting on my own insecurities and talking with friends and family, I’ve determined that social media is the trigger for most. As a social media influencer, it would be impossible for me to delete my internet presence. Even so, if I quit using social media, would all of my insecurities melt away? Probably not, but I know my insecurities wouldn’t weigh me down every day. Instead, they might come in the form of an occasional, light spring shower—a necessity to keep me progressing and growing, just like blooming flowers. Social media is a tool for community building and connection.

Rarely are things as they seem online. An image can be altered or staged, a smile could hide depression, and all of the followers in the world don’t necessarily equate to actual love or friendship.

So what can we do to embrace the positives of social media while also making it a safer space for our minds, bodies, and spirits, especially if a clean break isn’t an option?

Social media can take up a significant amount of my day. I had to implement some balance because there was no way spending eight hours a day on my phone was healthily impacting my self-esteem. I decided to mute all social media notifications. You can easily mute notifications by visiting your settings panel on any social media site. Usually, the platform will ask if you would like to “receive push notifications.” Switch that setting from on to off. My screen time went from eight hours to four in a week. My mind was instantly clearer.

Have you ever met someone who was 100 percent satisfied with their life and their appearance?

Chances aren’t good—even the people you thought lead perfect, happy lives struggle with self-confidence. Beauty standards are constantly evolving, and whether these ideals are more inclusive of different forms of beauty or not, they affect every single person.

Studies from the National Center for Biotechnology Information show it is imperative for cancer patients to remain in high spirits and foster a positive outlook to encourage their bodies to heal. Just because someone is fighting cancer doesn’t mean their needs and desires to feel beautiful evaporate. Societal beauty standards hang over our heads like a storm cloud, and while on some days the sun may shine, other days may feel like we have been caught in a torrential downpour of self-doubt and deprecation.

From reflecting on my own insecurities and talking with friends and family, I’ve determined that social media is the trigger for most. As a social media influencer, it would be impossible for me to delete my internet presence. Even so, if I quit using social media, would all of my insecurities melt away? Probably not, but I know my insecurities wouldn’t weigh me down every day. Instead, they might come in the form of an occasional, light spring shower—a necessity to keep me progressing and growing, just like blooming flowers. Social media is a tool for community building and connection.

Rarely are things as they seem online. An image can be altered or staged, a smile could hide depression, and all of the followers in the world don’t necessarily equate to actual love or friendship.

So what can we do to embrace the positives of social media while also making it a safer space for our minds, bodies, and spirits, especially if a clean break isn’t an option?

Social media can take up a significant amount of my day. I had to implement some balance because there was no way spending eight hours a day on my phone was healthily impacting my self-esteem. I decided to mute all social media notifications. You can easily mute notifications by visiting your settings panel on any social media site. Usually, the platform will ask if you would like to “receive push notifications.” Switch that setting from on to off. My screen time went from eight hours to four in a week. My mind was instantly clearer.