Honesty Hour: Free of Filter

Hi guys. So I'm thinking I may do this feature... just because let's be real, the world does need more honesty.  I'm... feeling that more than ever. 

A few minutes ago I watched this video of a makeup tutorial... but it was so much more than that.  I personally am not much for makeup tutorials, mostly because I don't have time for such extensive makeup in my daily life... nor do I find it that interesting to watch other people do it... but this one was different.  (I'll give a shout-out to VICKYLOGAN, you can check out her YouTube channel here) The vlogger, Vicky, touched on a ton of topics during a "get ready with me" vid, (which you can watch here) But I just got to thinking about some of the things she said about confidence, society's expectations, loving yourself, and imperfections. She starts the video tutorial with no make up on at all and I have to say... I appreciated that so much.  To see someone in their natural beauty, to see that not all people are somehow china dolls all the time, to see that someone is comfortable in their skin and that they only pop into another one out of personal preference and not pressure or obligation..... It was inspiring.

And she's totally right about the fact that our imperfections make us...well, us. And that "perfect" isn't, and should never be, a standard.  

So where am I going with this? 

To be honest (ha, get it? Cuz it's honesty hour) I don't really know. All I can say is that I have felt myself... get caught up in all of it.  It's so easy to just hop on Snapchat, or Instagram or Twitter or Facebook, see the filtered snapshots of the seemingly perfect lives of others and just feel really, really down about yourself. Or, to just go out there and make you want to be like someone else, or someone you're not. And, once you do feel that push to go out and completely change yourself... once you have, maybe, what you feel like has been "for the better".. You can't help but blast it out there for others to see.  The pictures flow, freely, leaking out to all the platforms screaming "hey! I'm normal!" or "hey! I'm cool!" or "hey I look good!" "wow I'm stylish" "wow I'm this" "I'm healthy" "I'm happy" "I'm in love"...

It all builds up.  To the point where it's a bit much.  It's hard to know what any followers think... They're judging only on pictures.  Your analysis becomes geared towards likes, follows, and favorites. And your perceptions of reality are, well, filtered. 

Why is social media such a monster sometimes? Does anyone else feel like it has robbed their soul in one way or another?

I do. 

I have to admit, I love Instagram.  The pictures are so pretty and I like how they're perfect squares and how the feed can be so colorful sometimes... But what I don't like is that it's so unrealistic at times. There's a level of superficiality that comes out and just takes hold and makes it reaaaally easy to compare yourself to other people... 

I used to hate "selfies" with a passion... (Just the word makes me cringe...still..) My first reaction is that it was kind of a vain thing to do.  But what do I say now when I post them myself? And even more, when the filters are just piled on?

I compare my older pictures with some from now... they're different.  

And somehow, in one way or another, they're tailored to other people.  Which shouldn't be the case. 

Why do people seek perfection? Call it artsy or whatever with all the filters (though I can't judge because I love filters because they can twist a photo so many different ways) but life isn't... filtered.

And I think you can eventually become addicted. Not just to the platforms, but the content and the content posted to said platform.

I say this, because I think I am.

As much as I don't wanna be like "oh, I'm addicted I need to stop..." When it gets in the way of my productivity or when it just starts to change your views on things just a bit... it's a bit much.

That being said... while I don't wanna take a hard-core hiatus (though that'd probably be a good idea with all of my unproductive-ness as of late) I do want to try something. 

Similar to my waaaaaaay long ago post about going "Unmasked" for 3 weeks or so, I'm gonna go unfiltered.  All posts, no matter where, will be free of a filter  Just to gain an appreciation those things that do not need a filter.  Friends, family, nature, and importantly, yourself.  

Like Vicky says, everyone has something or some things they don't like about themselves.  But the crucial part is learning to live with them, embracing them and being aware of them. Because like she says

"...All of that [makeup, clothes hair, imperfections etc.]... at the end of the day, it don't matter because we all go to sleep in the dark. ...Well, most of us-- some of us use night-lights.... But when it's dark and no body sees you... Do you love you?" ~Vicky  

She's very funny and down to earth, I highly recommend her channel.

So, my friends! Head out into this filtered world and just rip the filter off.  Love you, what is raw, what is real, what is most important to you... And I shall do the same. Again, I'm not hating on filters or anything, I just... sometimes I wanna view the world without one for a while.  To keep it in check.

And you're invited, too! Feel absolutely free to follow me on my unfiltered journey and join me in my #freeoffilter endeavors: @stephaniesaysxo on Instagram & Twitter.

Love always,
Steph xoxo