I have a confession: I get anxiety when I check social media.
People post about getting married, having babies, taking lavish vacations, and solving world hunger. Meanwhile, I'm barely keeping it together.
All illustrations by Jon Youshaei/The Every Vowel.
<p>I have to remind myself that people don't show their full selves on social media. It's only their "greatest hits." </p><h2>Lots of people pretend to be someone they're not.</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcwMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDk3MzYyOX0.rixKt8q3h9WhgJHfiJNH24XdR_p0cjBqQS3dwLVzYVI/img.jpg?width=980" id="12eb4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cebdcaa500a825b833a647c4148e4323" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><h2>Like a "social media influencer."</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcwMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODAzMjQ2MX0.djP1UsFsaZXvhQ0F70MSJz42w6DRcpLLO83QHCveYWU/img.jpg?width=980" id="bd760" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0cfa5cfea7a40206be51a2a855c670ce" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><h2>Or a "Bitcoin guru."</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcwNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTU5Mzc3M30.eEiHSHqqtcSLRQxXy1xWOLjOweZLhqgKC0UPwF0G0DM/img.jpg?width=980" id="9c222" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f19ec053ddb62e7b56613c340da5daf0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><h2>But truth is, not everyone crushes their goals <em>all </em>the time. </h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcwNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NzYwNDY3NH0.cZbhxy0JQm86x_ay5lmn9wRWaHOfcdnt56r2HMZc0UA/img.jpg?width=980" id="95e6b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="aefc531c5803e5f7c38ae2b6b8acdc44" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><p>Even the seemingly most successful people struggle. And you can overcome any challenge if you keep three simple things in mind.</p><p><div id="upworthyFreeStarVideoAdContainer"><div id="freestar-video-parent"><div id="freestar-video-child"></div></div></div></p><h2>1. Don't let pride get in your way.</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcwNy9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzOTA2NTEyNH0.6lC4lSz1uYlrNyGpD32AAYpLFefxR4LenpLIerFYam0/img.png?width=980" id="cb9be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="63567a9017bcc5508a261857171cb6d7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><h2>2. Ask for help.</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcwOC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNDEwNzMwOH0.yYs8lV2TRMxjwRm_Ebz_Qz01VTgwSRbceAGYb75B9tA/img.jpg?width=980" id="9e321" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="33e52c47e720629f96b0f4c3f24fef5f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><h2>3. Above all: Don’t be so hard on yourself!</h2><p>You don't need to be perfect to be happy. </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcwOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjYzNTQ1OX0.0zGtn_gpCligwA5bH8mA8CXVnCEpxEaBnJht6yj0wjs/img.jpg?width=980" id="ba134" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d96599fa353af2ec07f8719b07c7a5bb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><h2>You don't need to have all the answers.</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcxMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3Nzk1MjM0M30.qmPxLQDUOYUUPI6Ud8jxFViZ3-E2Kt10veVmChIgAJw/img.jpg?width=980" id="c90e8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2e64f27379f121d591135439f11df0c9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><h2>Even people who soar don’t have it all figured out. </h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcxMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MDk5NzE4NX0.cnTYW2bfuHVt7Qbl_pYgPr_NIjc8dawsm40ork09XhQ/img.png?width=980" id="3d5be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cf9156bdac34408d6d85003bf4929dd4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><h2>Life is constantly under construction. Failure isn't a detour. It's a rite of passage.</h2><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTM0NjcxMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MDU5NjY4MH0.s9A-e2tjuIXAU9SdPhLht77fI812dwzWYIl7jM5sIF4/img.jpg?width=980" id="13f38" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a44a411de7d7579990538bcfd92729d1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"><small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption..."></small></p><p><em>You can find more of my cartoons on <a href="https://www.everyvowel.com/" target="_blank">EveryVowel.com</a>.</em></p>
Keep Reading
Show less