Danger of taking social media posts to heart

Danger of taking social media posts to heart (Photo: iStock)

When you look at curated social media feeds, you will notice an unending highlight reel of triumphs and smiles. But is it truly possible or even normal to be that happy all the time?

The answer, grounded in both psychological science and the inherent human experience, is a resounding no. Constant pursuit of perpetual happiness is not only unrealistic but can be detrimental to your mental health.

Our emotions are rich and diverse, purposely designed to provide us with vital information about what’s going on internally and externally.

Just like physical pain signals a need for attention to your body, emotions like sadness, anger, frustration or disappointment equally serve important functions. They are indicators guiding us towards reflection, reaction and adaptation.

Suppressing or denying how you feel in favour of a consistently positive facade is akin to silencing an alarm system, and may create a temporary sense of calm, but it leaves you vulnerable to underlying issues that you choose not to address.

Take a look at the dynamic nature of life itself. It is a continuous motion of challenges and triumphs, losses and gains, moments of profound connection and periods of solitude.

Each of these unique experiences, whether positive or negative, elicits a spectrum of emotional responses. Navigating grief, for instance, requires the space to feel deep sadness, which, while painful, is an essential part of the healing process if you think about it.

Likewise, anger can be a powerful catalyst for change by signalling a boundary violation or an injustice that demands action. So, to expect constant happiness is to expect life to be a flat, unchanging landscape devoid of the very ups and downs that give it meaning and depth.

Also, the very definition of happiness is deeply personal. It is not a fixed state but an ever-evolving feeling that can manifest in various forms.

From the quiet contentment found in a moment of peace, the exhilaration of achieving a long-held goal or the warmth of love and connection with family or a spouse.

What many get wrong is thinking they can chase the fake, idealised social media version of happiness into real life. This not only leads you to a hedonic treadmill where you constantly seek pleasure, but it will hit you hard once you realise your expectations will not always be met.