Follow me…or don’t.

I realized something icky about myself the other day. Far too often I measure my self-worth by a number on a screen.

It hit me that no matter how many followers I have, no matter how much traffic my blog gets, no matter what circles I nudge my way into, I will never feel like I’ve “made it.”

If I measure my worth by likes, follows, and pageviews, I will never be enough.

But that’s the lie, isn’t it?

When I hit this number, I will feel validated. When I am invited on this trip, I will feel worthy. When I am followed by this person, I will feel like I’ve made it.

Ugh, what a load of crap. This is never going to happen.

Because as soon as I hit that number, a new number is going to pop up in my mythical mindset. As soon as I am invited on a trip, I will compare myself to those around me and feel like I don’t measure up. (And by the way, why wasn’t I invited on THAT trip?)

Social media has warped our sense of worth in a way that was never possible before. When I was in high school, I compared myself to a handful of popular kids. When I was in college there were maybe a few people who intimidated me.

These days? There is an endless virtual sea of people to compare myself with. I am followed and unfollowed, liked and ignored, multiple times a day by thousands of people. And if I let this reality define my self worth I will be nothing more than a puddle on the floor.

Did you know there is an app that will tell you when you are unfollowed and by whom? Seriously, who willingly signs up for something like that?

We have to constantly remind ourselves that this is not what matters.

(And hello, I follow and unfollow people all the time. We weren’t all meant to follow each other.)

You and I were made with gifts and talents and beautiful things to share with this world. We are unique creations put in this place at this time for a reason. And when we compare ourselves to others, we miss out on what we were made for. We miss out on our true purpose in this life.

Also, it’s hard to do something good for the world when you’re focused so much on yourself.

(Ouch.)

Maybe you were meant to influence a small circle of people. Those people need you.

Maybe you were put here to pour into the tiny people tugging on your shirtsleeve. They need you.

Maybe you were designed to stand on a stage in front of thousands to preach or teach or sing. (Not me. Definitely not me.)

Whatever you were made for, don’t miss it because you are constantly turning to the right and to the left. Keep your head up. Keep your eyes locked in to what matters. Pour into things that last.

Don’t let your social standing, or your social media standing, get in the way of who you were meant to be.