In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s becoming increasingly common for people to spend more time on social media than engaging with their significant other. While this behavior may seem harmless at first glance — just a few minutes scrolling through updates or watching short videos — it can slowly erode the quality of connection in a relationship. The dynamics behind this shift are complex. Social media offers instant gratification, distraction from stress, and the illusion of social interaction. Unlike real-life relationships, which require emotional effort, patience, and vulnerability, social media provides a curated escape where a person can control what they see and how they are seen. This allure can be especially tempting when real-life relationships feel difficult, unfulfilling, or mundane.
In today’s hyper-connected world, it’s becoming increasingly common for people to spend more time on social media than engaging with their significant other. While this behavior may seem harmless at first glance — just a few minutes scrolling through updates or watching short videos — it can slowly erode the quality of connection in a relationship. The dynamics behind this shift are complex. Social media offers instant gratification, distraction from stress, and the illusion of social interaction. Unlike real-life relationships, which require emotional effort, patience, and vulnerability, social media provides a curated escape where a person can control what they see and how they are seen. This allure can be especially tempting when real-life relationships feel difficult, unfulfilling, or mundane.
When we consistently focus on what’s wrong, on fear, or on how we’ve been wronged, we begin to attract more of the same. Not because life is cruel, but because our mindset filters how we interpret and interact with the world. A negative thought pattern causes us to miss opportunities, expect failure, and radiate energy that repels rather than attracts.
Feeling unattractive is an experience that can sneak up on anyone—regardless of age, gender, or physical appearance. Whether it’s triggered by a glance in the mirror, a social media scroll, or an offhand comment from someone else, these moments of self-doubt can leave deep emotional imprints. Understanding why we sometimes feel this way, how it shapes our behavior, and what we can do to shift our perspective is the first step toward reclaiming a healthier, more compassionate self-image.
I never saw it coming. One day, I was a wife with a future I thought was secure, and the next, I was alone—utterly, terrifyingly alone. My husband left, and with him went the life we had built together. I was left staring at the pieces, not knowing how I’d pay the bills, how to start over, or even who I was without him. The fear was overwhelming. I had wrapped so much of my identity around being a partner, a caregiver, someone who anchored a family. And suddenly, all I could see were the holes—emotionally, financially, spiritually. The weight of starting over felt too heavy to carry.
Sally Baker discusses strategies to help us reassess unhealthy coping mechanisms so we can gain resilience from the inside out.
Dr. Greg Hammer talks about his GAIN method for self care that he says can improve mental, emotional, and physical health.
Stacy Bass talks about the intersection of loss, healing, and creative expression.
Carolyn Sharp offers a solution for relationships that are struggling, feeling stale, or just in need of a little extra care.