Don't we all flex?


Social media is the realm of 'flexing'. Which side of our lives we choose to show off is our choice. 

Some people highlight the warmth of their little family, while some showcase the joy of buying luxury items. 

Some people share how cute they are with their loving partners, while some point out how success they are with their career, business, or study. 

Some people constantly post their routine with their adorable pets, while some frequently expose their body transformation.  

Some people love flexing the excitement of their travelling journey, while some prefer uploading how dedicated they are in their religious community. 

Some people are eager to share their experience or knowledge in a particular field, while some are enthusiastic to demonstrate how good they are in singing or playing musical instruments. 

Don't we all flex in our own way? For me personally, nothing's wrong. We use our social media to document our lives, don't we? 

What's the problem?

What makes it problematic is when we start to compare our whole lives to some brief Instagram stories our friends create. We start to assume that our lives are nothing special, boring, and mediocre. 

Even worse, we might spark the feeling of jealousy, bitterness, overthinking, and anxiety. As a result, some of us are triggered to perceive life as a competition: who shares the most pleasant updates are the winners. For them, life is no more than a running track. 

Recently, some of my high school mates are being proposed. Many of them progress to the phase of marriage. When I met up with my other high school mates, I heard someone babbling anxiously, "When is it going to be my turn? How lucky they are!" 

I responded by saying, "Chill, mate! Life is not a sprint race. We got our own timing!"

Then, how should we react? 

Buddhism teaches one simple thing: muditā. It is an altruistic joy—the pleasure that comes from delighting in other people's achievement. 

For instance, when we see someone posts themselves with their new car, despite of muttering sour remarks, it is better if we feel happy for their achievement, don't we?  When we see many friends are getting married while we are not yet, isn't it better to feel happy for them than overwhelming our mind with anxiety and the unworthiness? 

Social media is the realm of 'flexing'. How we react is our choice! 

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