The Magic of De-Influencing

At this point, we're all aware of influencer culture–and hopefully, we're all aware of the impact influencer culture can have on our mental health.

From “FOMO” to impulse-buying to endless envy of someone else's curated lifestyle, influencer culture can make it difficult to feel content with our lives as they are.

I personally am of two minds when it comes to influencers: on one hand, it's amazing that people can make a living online. Personally, it's been a lifesaver for me to earn money on my own schedule so I can pay for grad school. On the other hand, much of influencing goes against my ethics of mental health best practices.

As I navigate life in New York City, which can often be isolating, exhausting, and competitive, I've found comfort and peace in “de-influencing.”

You may have heard the term before, but I define de-influencing as online content that encourages contentment, peace, and love for the life you're already living. I don't really love the term “de-influencing,” as it carries the connotation of its opposite, but it's useful for this paradigm shift.

Sometimes de-influencing content is obvious, such as videos labeled “Accepting your face.” Sometimes it's a beautiful piece of writing or videography that makes me feel creative, connected, and inspired, without leaving me feeling envious or less-than.

Overall, as I've continued in my personal, spiritual, and academic journeys, mindfully consuming inspiring content has massively helped my sense of self. Treating your online world like your personally-curated mood board helps you have greater autonomy over your attention and emotions, and can leave you feeling more fulfilled and at peace.

Some of my favorite creators include Jonna Jinton, Harmony Nice, and Freyia Norling.