In my experience social media has gotten away from what I love about it, a way to feel a part of people in my life with the creation of so much extra noise. I enjoy staying connected to friends from the past and family that is far, along with having the opportunity to meet new people I may not otherwise. But as I often tell clients, a good thing is no longer a good thing when not used in a good way. And for me, that has been the case, especially given how I process both the information I take in and share.

Many of you hear me talk about Strengths and following your natural way of doing things best so here is an example of how Stream with Hart is better for some of mine, specifically.

Empathy (which is different than being empathetic) - on social media this can feel heavy in a hurry! I absorb too much of what is out of my control yet take it on as if it were my own emotionally. And given our bodies physiologically can’t decipher the difference between a real and perceived threat, leading it to react the same, consuming so much stressful information is taking a toll mentally and physically. I struggle with knowing the boundary between what is mine, and what isn’t.

Here I have a quiet space to only control what I can, myself and let go of the worries of the world, at least for a moment.

Woo (win others over) - for years my desire to be liked and accepted lead to putting others opinions of me above my own. Posting on social media was starting to bring me back to that place. I started to let the number of “likes” determine my worth.

Here I can take my power back and share from the heart without putting myself in that mindset while connecting authentically with others.

Communication - For those of us who post content on social media it can feel like a crapshoot as to whether you are heard or get lost in the sea of creators. It can feel like, those who yell the loudest get the attention which does not align with effective communicators.

Here people come who are interested and can take in what they choose with intention without all the extra noise.

Analytical (which is low for me) - I am not one to pour over data and metrics. In the social media world, numbers tell the story and often determine “success”. That is the last thing I want to let influence how I go about sharing my message and determine the impact I make on others.

Here the numbers are not in my face and there is no pressure to look at them. I post, I share and let go of it from there to stay authentic.

Competition (which is low for me) - Social media is the land of comparisons and that is one of the quickest ways to bring me down because it is so easy to get caught up in it. I would find myself feeling depressed because so and so was getting more engagement or second guessing myself because someone else’s post was better.

Here I don’t need to keep up with anyone else. I can just be myself without worrying about what is going on with other posts.

Consistency (which is not about “being consistent” but more about sameness and is also low for me) - I do not view life as one-size-fits-all. I will never fit the social media mold in terms of content creation and have no desire to keep up with the latest fell proof system of how to post to keep up with the masses.

Here I can express myself and share empowerment focused value in a way that works for me and you, without worrying about conforming to the latest trends.

That’s why Stream with Hart feels like home. It’s not about keeping up or fitting in. It’s about showing up, sharing what I see, and honoring my desire to help you move forward in your own way.