I recently heard a real story about a 70-year-old man in China who shared his exercise videos online. His impressive, young-man like muscles attracted plenty of views and compliments, with many remarking that he looked like a young man. However, he suddenly died of heart failure.
As his online presence grew, so did the pressure to maintain his muscular image. The constant stream of likes and comments likely created an immense pressure to uphold the youthful persona he had projected. In his pursuit of external validation, he overexerted himself and tragically, it cost him his life.
If he had been well-anchored, with a clear idea of what he wanted for himself — a healthy body rather than public applause -— he might have avoided this.
This story made me reflect on my writing activity. I write every day, of course hoping to have a large readership. Sometimes, low readership can be discouraging.
However, I consider myself a super well-anchored person with a clear goal in mind. I understand that my goal is anything but internet attention. Writing is a highly valued creative activity, blessing me with more personal satisfaction than any external validation can provide. The size of readership is not relevant to my goal. I am keenly aware of the fleeting and capricious nature of external approval, so I don't let it bother me.
Finally, this cautionary story of an old man underscores the importance of coming to terms with the reality of our physical limitations. Social media can amplify external pressures and expectations, but it is crucial to remain true to who we are, -- not as young as we wish. Regardless of what we try to achieve, by staying focused on our goals, we can avoid the pitfalls of outside approval and find genuine satisfaction in our pursuits.