Very few adults will still wonder what their parents think of them. Instead, they often take the question elsewhere, such as a harsh figure of authority: media and social media.  In this place that rewards sadism and malice, the self-doubting person will now direct their fears of unworthiness and desire for reassurance and ask, "Do I deserve to exist? Am I OK?" However, social media never gives a reliable yes.  If we want to find out who we are, we will have to go back to the baby and quiet the alarmed enquiries with ample doses of soothing and kindness.

Looking to social media for reassurance

Early in a child's life, they will ask the world if they are doing OK. Do they deserve goodwill and sympathy? When a parent responds and is generous, warm, sympathetic and understanding of life's challenges, the child will develop an easy conscience and think of themselves as valuable. They won't continuously wonder if they have the right to exist. But the more punitive parent, whose approval is uncertain, will raise a child that is uncertain and in fear of being called arrogant.

Fear and self-doubt starts in childhood

Nowadays, in our more difficult moments, many of us turn to social media for reassurance. Unfortunately, we're more likely to encourage further self-hatred. Sign up to our new newsletter and get 10% off your first online order of a book, product or class: https://bit.ly/3HpVdSa For books and more from The School of Life, visit our online shop: https://bit.ly/3IkGDLl Our website has classes, articles and products to help you lead a more fulfilled life: https://bit.ly/3ihl7MI Join this channel to get access to exclusive members perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7IcJI8PUf5Z3zKxnZvTBog/join FURTHER READING You can read more on this and other subjects on our blog, here: https://bit.ly/3MWP2rK MORE SCHOOL OF LIFE Watch more films on SELF in our playlist: http://bit.ly/TSOLself SOCIAL MEDIA Feel free to follow us at the links below: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theschooloflifelondon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSchoolOfLife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theschooloflifelondon/ CREDITS Produced in collaboration with: Eunju Choi https://www.encountersdigital.com/artist-profiles/eunju-ara-choi Title animation produced in collaboration with Vale Productions https://www.valeproductions.co.uk/

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Nowadays, in our more difficult moments, many of us turn to social media for reassurance. Unfortunately, we're more likely to encourage further self-hatred.
Sign up to our new newsletter and get 10% off your first online order of a book, product or class: https://bit.ly/3HpVdSa
For books and more from The School of Life, visit our online shop: https://bit.ly/3IkGDLl
Our website has therapy, articles and products to help you lead a more fulfilled life: https://bit.ly/3ihl7MI

FURTHER READING

You can read more on this and other subjects on our blog, here: https://bit.ly/3MWP2rK


MORE SCHOOL OF LIFE

Watch more films on SELF in our playlist: 
http://bit.ly/TSOLself


SOCIAL MEDIA

Feel free to follow us at the links below:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theschooloflifelondon/  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSchoolOfLife   
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CREDITS

Produced in collaboration with:

Eunju Choi
https://www.encountersdigital.com/artist-profiles/eunju-ara-choi
 
Title animation produced in collaboration with

Vale Productions
https://www.valeproductions.co.uk/

We're interested in self-understanding, calm and emotional maturity.

We have thousands of articles about emotional life for you on our website: www.theschooloflife.com

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