Tag: social media

Affirming my vision

Lately, I’ve seen a great deal of success with using Pinterest as tool for my visioneering. Specifically, I am using Pinterest to construct my vision board. What’s great about this is that it’s totally portable, as long as I have the app on my phone and a good internet connection.

In the spirit of “sharing is caring”, I also started an Affirmations board of my personal affirmations. I will be adding my personal affirmations to this board and Instagram weekly.

I firmly believe we can all rise together, which is why I am committing to elevating others as well as myself. In what ways can we rise together? Put you suggestions in the comments!

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Admitting My Fears

I’d be lying right now if I didn’t admit I was scared.

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Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

I am scared everyday.  I am scared by the lack of leadership and coherence.  I am scared by the lack of unity.  I am scared that there’s no vaccine and not enough tests for this virus.  I am scared of the halt to most filming.  I am scared for loved ones who live in states where social distancing isn’t respected.  I am scared when I sneeze or cough, or feel just plain icky.

Once again, it’s time to inventory what I can and cannot control.

  1.  I can lead by example by social distancing and wearing masks and gloves.  I can post about what I am doing to stop the spread of this virus.  I can set a standard for my family to follow and take proper precautions.
  2. I can choose not to add to the din of social media right now.  I can choose not to attack my neighbors, friends and strangers online or offline.  I can choose to add helpful, factual information from credible sources and actionable tips and advice.  An ignorant person has to choose not to remain ignorant. I can instruct the ignorant, but its not my place to scold or punish those who are willfully and dangerously ignorant.
  3. I am not a scientist.  I choose to trust the science and the scientists, doctors and nurses.  When I need expert advice, I take it.
  4. Many of our industries will bounce back after a time.  It may not be on my preferred timeline, and there will be changes, but the film industry is resilient.  I am resilient and I will adapt as best I can to the changes that will inevitably take place.
  5. I cannot choose the actions or inaction of the federal, states or local governments.  I can share what I know to be true with my family.  They can make their choices in accordance with their local laws.  I may not like what other states are or aren’t doing, but I believe in democracy and I believe people DO get the government they DESERVE.  If you believe you deserve better, vote and act differently.
  6. I can keep my risk of contracting COVID-19 down by maintaining social distance, washing my hands, disinfecting surfaces and keeping myself minimally stressed.  A sneeze is not a death sentence.

When we keep facing our fears, we can be more honest with ourselves.  There is no “okay” right now.  It’s okay to be “not okay”.  However, we can’t just let our fears spin around in our monkey minds.  We need to get curious about them, like we would a new, intriguing species or a first date.

I’ve found Therapeer to be a free, valuable resource to discuss your COVID-19 fears with supportive peers.

Join me on Therapeer to receive peer emotional support, and to support others in need. Follow this link to get your own private support room for free https://www.therapeer.app/invite/xupg3

I am still scared, but I am supported in moving through and beyond my fears.
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That One Special Picture

You know that person that uses the same picture from ten years ago on all their social media profiles?  That picture than shows them 15 pounds lighter, not as wrinkled, and probably at a wedding or some other special occasion where they are made up or dressed to the nines?  That person may have a body image issue or at least a problem living in the NOW.  That person may or may not be you, but many people have this issue.

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It’s heartbreaking to me that many people choose a photo from their more distant past as their profile photos.  It’s like they can’t accept or acknowledge fully where they are today.  Our whole personhood is not dictated by one image.  There’s no perfect image of us.  We change each day.  Too many of us privilege that “one special photo” of us and can’t stop to appreciate the beauty of our maturation, the beauty of our experience.  Some are even ashamed to put up a more current photo because of how they think others will react to their picture.

The next time you’re tempted to put up a photo from your not-too-recent-past as a profile photo, question your motives.  Are you trying to escape what you perceive to be your shortcomings in the present?  Do you feel the pressures of ageism?  Do you feel like the past was somehow better? Our social profiles are now the face we show to the world.  Less and less, we interact in person.  Computing has diminished the need to go to coffee with someone.  We can chat through a small window.  We don’t have to give someone our full attention if we don’t care to.  That small chat window also tricks us into believing that we somehow “save face”.  We can project that idealized version of ourselves from 10 or 15 years ago without much consequence.

It’s time to embrace who we are today, with our wrinkles and cellulite, with all the “flaws”.  We are more than one image, frozen in time.  We are living, breathing, maturing, evolving persons and we should all celebrate who we are NOW, today.

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Get Daily Astrology Insight on Instagram

mars in aquariusCheck my Instagram story daily for astrology insights.  We are more than just our sun sign!  Today, fiery, fighting Mars is in airy, intellectual Aquarius, meaning there’s plenty of fuel for your inner fire.  The question is, “What causes am I most passionate about that would do the most good for the world?”  Take some time to reflect on that today!  Whether it’s animal rights or a political causes, Aquarian energy ask us to look at ourselves as part of a greater whole.

 

 

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Getting Yourself Out There

“Getting yourself out there”—it’s advice we hear all the time, but all too often it’s nebulous.  What’s out “out there” and how do we do it in a way that’s productive?  On this week’s episode of What Women Want Talk Radio we discussed the branding strategies of businesses large and small with experts Pamella Horton and Susan Gunelius.  Our riveting discussion unpacked more than just brand strategy.  We delved into to recent campaigns from companies like Campbell’s Soup and Pepsi as well as discussed influencer and content marketing—and so much more.

Learn more on Mogul.

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Your Brand is Everything

You have a great idea.  You have a great team.  You have superb processes and resources to set your business plans into motion…. but then, it’s time to discuss branding.  This where many entrepreneurs with innovative ideas get stuck.  Branding influences our lives as consumers of goods and services and the difference between great branding and bad branding impacts the viability of businesses.  On yesterday’s What Women Want Talk Radio broadcast, we had guests Joan Pelzer and Paula Conway on to unpack how branding impacts businesses large and small.

7.12 Your Brand Is Everything social

Joan Pelzer of Joan Pelzer Media provides dynamic social media consulting in New York City.  With years of experience in navigating the often-tumultuous social media landscape, Joan emphasizes communicating with authenticity—finding what’s truthful for you.  Joan’s enthusiasm and passion for her work is evident and this guides her branding choices for herself and those she helps.  Joan says, “I’m living my brand.”  Joan, Judy and I took on the topic of live streaming video on social media, and how to leverage it to benefit your brand.

Paula Conway, head of Astonish Media Group, a strategic media company, has years of experience helping brand her clients in hyper-competitive New York City.  She puts it very simply and directly, “Branding is quite literally everything.”  Many smaller companies don’t understand what their own brand is and may not have invested the time or the resources to clarify their brand identity.   Paula, as a branding expert, talks about how she branded her own company and how the power of the word “astonish” sets client expectations and her expectations of her employees.

I think one of the most important things that came out of this conversation is that communication happens on many levels.  Branding is more than coming up with a catchy slogan.  It’s more than a logo.  Branding extends to how we communicate and how we meet expectations, and hopefully, exceed them.

Listen to this compelling broadcast here.

Learn More:

Judy Goss

Kristin West

Joan Pelzer

Paula Conway

What Women Want Talk Radio

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Sometimes I Press the “Random” Button

Sometimes not everything is peachy in Kristin-land.  I have my ups and downs.  There’s that catchphrase, “The struggle is real.”  Well, the stupid is real too and some days are full of very real and very consequential stupid.

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I have had to learn how to manage a few roller coaster situations  in the last few months.   I’ve had to work on checking in with myself and I’ve found a surprising source of happy-my Tumblr.  My Tumblr has been godsend the past few months.

My Tumblr consists of mostly things I find fun, interesting and make me happy.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve pressed the “Random” button, seen a photo I’ve long forgotten and broken into a smile.  It’s my happy bank.

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There’s a lot of rancor on social media.  It’s the zeitgeist.  However, I think we all need a little digital happy place, one that we don’t feel the need to impress too much or grow following, just a space to let those memories that make us happy “be”.  If I were craftier, I’d scrapbook, but then I’d have to carry it around everywhere.   Considering my penchant for mislaying things, it’s probably best that my happy bank is digitized.

My point is, sometimes life hits hard.  It may be difficult to see the blessings.  You may be barraged by stupid.  When those times come, it’s important to remember the good times.  Fill your happy bank and your heart will always be full of gratitude when you need it most.  For me, it’s a small space on Tumblr.  Explore what works for you.

 

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Dear Facebook,

Dear Facebook,

Please, please, please make the “thankful” flower a permanent thing.

thankful flower

I think this little flower emoji is so powerful.  We all need to be better about expressing gratitude.  There are so many things that go wrong in the world, so much unfairness, bad vibes and mistrust, that we NEED more gratitude in our daily lives to counterbalance all the toxicity and dross.  Since social media is so ubiquitous, especially Facebook, this little flower emoji, I think, could do a lot to elevate social media culture.   Gratitude is scientifically proven to reduce aggression, improve health and help self-esteem and mental strength.  

I actually started a petition about this.  Please check it out!

In Gratitude,

Kristin West

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