Why 2020 might not have been very bad after all

Introduction

Today, we will describe how 2020 wasn't as bad as portrayed on various social media platforms. In this post, we will discuss the influence social media posts have on your perception of reality (Yeah, it will be a mini-psychological roller-coaster), and our intent out of this is that our readers have a neutral view of any event happening in the world because, in the real world, nothing is entirely white or black (i.e., completely good or evil), most of the things are grey.

Ok, so to inform you, this post will be slightly heavy (psychologically speaking) but do stick with us as you might take away something valuable from this read.

So, let's jump straight into it.

Background

We all know how bad 2020 was. I mean, on recall, it seems like an Avengers trailer. And I am here not to comment on hardships faced by our front-line health workers, police, people who got severely ill due to COVID-19, or the numerous people who lost their jobs or had to shut down their businesses, because their pain is too legit that I wouldn't be able to do justice to them. For them, all I can do is appreciate their hard work and dedication throughout the year.

What I want to discuss is how 2020 was for the rest of us, for whom the main problems were the mental stress of staying indoors and maybe the fear of our loved ones getting severely ill due to COVID-19. Now, while our stress or anxiety is completely justified (since pain is subjective, so no denying there) but the problem is how social media portrays it.

Problem (Heavy stuff coming up…)

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm

When you see that every other post and every other meme is about how 2020 was the worst year; it does have a psychological impact on you. What happens is, subconsciously, you start thinking that 2020 is terrible. And it is also justified since everyone is talking about it, so we assume that that must be the truth, that is the reality.

Why? Because that is how we are coded genetically ( from an evolutionary perspective). Back when we were hunter-gatherers, we went around hunting in small groups, requiring cooperation from all the individuals. For our survival, it was important that everyone shared the same view and were on the same page. So, from that perspective, to not be alienated from our group (which might get us killed), it was in our best interests to go with what the group believes.

But here is where the problem arises. Though it might be the reality for many people (in fact, it might be worse), it might not be that bad for you. By you, I mean your subjective reality, not what those Instagram posts tell you, your actual world around you.

But, since your subconscious mind has already asserted the fact that 2020 is bad, you start to perceive your reality through that lens. Let me elaborate.

Let's say it's been about a month since you have gone out, the only people you meet are your parents/ relatives, you have online classes/ work from home. In this scenario, your feeling low/ anxious is completely justified since it is like you are trapped in a cage. Your mental state is very vulnerable. So, to seek solace, you switch to social media. While this helps you forget your harsh reality on one level, subconsciously, this is adding a filter of pessimism since it distorts your reality as described above.

So, what happens is, when you think about your situation, you start magnifying your pain due to this filter of pessimism. You start feeling worse because, now, you see your reality through this filter of pessimism. It is like seeing the glass as half empty, i.e.; you start seeing more of the negative side of things.

And this further deteriorates your mental health. You try to seek further solace from social media, thereby starting a loop. 

This has been one of the main reasons for poor mental health for many people, even when the situation might not have been that bad, to begin with. Moreover, since these things happen subconsciously, you do not realize that you are hurting your mental health by falling into that loop.

Solution

I will not tell you generic stuff like be happy or tell you that your pain is nothing compared to other people because what you feel, no one else can feel it's intensity, so giving you advice like that would be stupidity on my part.

What I can offer you is a solution that I, myself, have implemented in my life, and it might work for you. What you can do is reduce the usage of social media and instead focus on other things like hobbies, exercise, or spending time with family.

Yeah, I know, you have heard this stuff a couple of times, but trust me, it helps. 

It helps you channelize your energy and attention away from social media while also helping you develop a skill or strengthen your relationship with your parents. And believe me, these changes give a true sense of happiness and mental peace that is long-lived in contrast to the short-lived joy you get from social media.

Why? Because these things bring real changes in your life, they improve your life. When you start seeing the positive changes that these activities result in, it gives you a true sense of satisfaction.

P.S: If you like what you read, don't hesitate to share it with your friends and family. If you feel there is anything we can improve on, please give your valuable feedback and suggestions in the comments below.