Wherever You Go, There You Are

The era of the social media influencer, what a time to be alive (lol, NOT). You go on social media for some good old-fashioned escapism but come off it feeling even worse about yourself when you see the hoard of people posting videos from Bali and Australia looking like they’re having the time of their lives, with not a problem in the world.

Comparison is the thief of joy they say, but it’s very difficult to live by that mantra when you’re constantly consuming content where it appears their daily routine is comprised of acai bowls, tanning on the beach, an hour in the gym, and a meal and drinks with friends.

Is it’s all it’s made out to be? In my opinion, I really don’t think so. Social media is fake, and the lives most influencers appear to live are fake too (there are always exceptions).

If you think by moving country that it will dissolve all of your life problems, think again. Unless you’re moving for safety, health or genuine employment reasons. Even at that, in most cases your problems won’t magically disappear.

The Bali Effect

I used to be somewhat jealous of the influencer lifestyle, but thankfully that has dissipated. Apart from the few who use their platform for good, to spread quality knowledge and to build some great businesses, the large majority are found lacking.

Posting pictures in bikinis/underwear, topless chest and ab workouts, advertising harmful products and not providing any genuinely useful information. The only thing they end up contributing to is a spread of misinformation, body dysmorphia, and eating disorders.

Spray tan, post-workout pumps, 4 different lights and camera angles – for what? To get thousands of likes, but also to make thousands of people feel like shit about themselves. It gives you an immediate boost, but it’s never enough. Your personal identity will be related to your body – what happens when you gain fat and get older?

I thought Instagram influencers were bad, but TikTok influencers have surpassed them in my opinion. Men jumping up and down in sweatpants and women doing 'tutorials' with no bras. Sex sells, but at what cost? It is primarily young minds consuming this content for hours every day – I don’t think the real effects will be evident until a few years down the line.

This can only last for so long, however. There comes a time where posting topless pictures of yourself and posting ‘booty burner’ workouts will no longer cut it. You can’t work on your laptop on a beach in Bali forever. At some point you will have to return to reality.

We Need Purpose

As human beings, we need to feel like we have a purpose in life. One of the biggest reasons people suffer from depression is a feeling of ‘lack of purpose’. It’s unlikely that purpose is going to be found in a random nightclub in Bali after four jager bombs and a line of cocaine.

There’s a lot to be said for having a solid routine, a job that doesn’t make you want to die and where you can see growth and progression, family nearby, and genuine friends you can meet up with if you’re struggling. There is great fulfilment and enjoyment you can get from everyday life, which doesn’t require being in a different place.

Sometimes, there is beauty in simplicity.

Don’t get me wrong, as I write this a lot of my close friends have currently moved abroad to the likes of Canada or Australia for a year or two. They’re not the people that I’m talking about here. I’m all for travelling and experiencing different cultures and new places.

It is the stereotypical influencer type who constantly promote shit products, highly edited images, and puts pressure on others to lead a similar lifestyle. No Courtney, I don’t want to buy your Skinny Tea or your six week weight-loss plan.

"There’s so much more out there than X town/city" is something I’ve heard many people say. Yes, this is true, there is so much out there. But you don’t always have to quit your job and move abroad to experience this. You can travel, experience new cultures and have fun without uprooting your life if you want to. If you are a homebird and you want to build a family, a community and a career at home, that’s perfectly fine. You don’t have to feel guilty about it.

Wherever You Go, There You Are

When I was younger, I used to feel like by moving abroad I could start fresh, and all my problems would leave me. My mind would be clear.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Some of the times where I have suffered most mentally were when I was abroad for long periods of time. Moving location doesn’t change what is inside you. That is something you have to deal with, no matter where you go.

If you want to improve your mental wellbeing, go to therapy, not Thailand.

I love travelling and have had great times while doing so, but the downside of moving abroad long-term is probably not spoken of enough.

It depends on your values. If you move abroad for multiple years, you lose out on valuable time with loved ones. This may not be problematic if you have young parents and a completely healthy family. However, there can be quite a bit of guilt present when you’re on the opposite side of the world away from family members who are either extremely sick, or very old.

Don’t move abroad because you feel pressured to, and you feel like everyone else’s life is better than yours because they’re in a different country. Really think about it before you make the move, because the transition is not as easy as it is made out to be. If it is something you genuinely want to do for the right reasons, absolutely go for it. If you’re doing it because other people are or you think it will dissolve all of your unresolved issues, maybe take longer to think about it.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Mark Manson:

“Yes, breadth of experience is likely necessary and desirable when you’re young — after all, you have to go out there and discover what seems worth investing yourself in. But depth is where the gold is buried. And you have to stay committed to something and go deep to dig it up. That’s true in relationships, in a career, in building a great lifestyle — in everything.”

If you have any questions, or would like to get in touch you can contact us via email: info@healthandperformanceacademy.ie our website www.healthandperformanceacademy.ie or via our various social media platforms.