Capture Moments, Live Fully: A New Perspective
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Contributed by Stephanie Staples at Your Life Unlimited
I hope this note finds you so well and happy! Are we connected onlline yet? If not, please feel free to add me on your favourite social media platform.
But…The truth is, I’ve been posting a lot less online lately and there is a very specific reason.
I’d been noticing that when a ‘postable event’ happens – a fun experience, an impressively presented meal, a beautiful scene in nature, I dislike the time it took away from my experience. It’s not so much the time it took to take the picture but actually the time it took to write and post about it.
Furthermore, I really disliked when others did this when I was sharing an experience with them, they sort of ‘checked out’ of the experience for a couple of minutes to do their post and then rejoined.
The message I got (and gave) was that making this post right now is more important than being in this present moment (no matter whether it was solo or with someone else).
I’d wondered the asked out loud, “Does it matter if we post in real-time? Is it less effective/interesting if you post hours/days/months later?”
Not really caring about the answer, I already decided what would be best for me.
So imagine my delight when I heard about a photography study (led by Gal Zauberman at Yale) that showed taking a picture, for the purpose of posting immediately, reduced people’s satisfaction with the experience. The fact that they were more focused on how the picture would appear to others (and the external validation they may receive) took away from being present to enjoy the experience itself.
The results were different if the person was capturing the photo for themselves to remember the moment or even to post later, they were able to be more present, remain in the moment, and immerse themselves and simply enjoy the experience of the experience for themselves.
Sharing is a natural part of what we as humans do and we get enjoyment from it.
Now…your life, your version, your plan…
Consider capturing your moment, but staying in the moment and posting about it (if you want) later; it’s just one more way to live Your Life, Unlimited!
Clickity, click, Steph
SEA LION PHOTO… Here is a cool experience I had last week when my sister was visiting. We enjoyed (almost ) every moment together and posted nothing in real-time. If you ever Vancouver Island (which I highly recommend) seeing hundreds of Sea Lions is a typical fall site at Cowichan Bay. It was a bit smelly but the barking sounds they made were incredible!
