08/14/2026
Just some random thoughts that have been rolling around in my head lately…
I follow a few influencers who aren’t local, and I genuinely enjoy watching their stories. I like seeing what they’re wearing, things they recommend, products they love, cleaning tips, family life, etc. And I think social media can be such a funny thing because it can be beneficial and entertaining while also becoming unhealthy if we aren’t careful.
Because before you know it, you start comparing.
You start looking at someone else’s life thinking they have everything together. You see the beautiful house, the clothes, the trips, the supportive husband and family, the successful business…and you’re seeing a tiny portion of their actual life, but somehow you start comparing your WHOLE life to it.
And I’ve caught myself doing that.
One thing I’ve noticed with some of the women I follow is how supportive their families are of what they do. Their husbands will be right there in the videos, helping them create content or laughing along with it. And sometimes I think, Lord, if I walked around this house all day with my phone in my face saying, “Okay guys, here’s my outfit today and I’m linking these shoes because they’re SO cute!” my family would absolutely roast me. 😂😂
They would NEVER let me live it down.
And if I’m being completely transparent, sometimes I find myself going back and forth about influencers in general.
One minute I’m thinking, That is amazing. She has built a business for herself, she gets to work from home, spend time with her family AND contribute financially.
And then another part of me thinks, Girl…go get a real job. 😂
I KNOW. That sounds terrible. 😂 But I’m admitting it because I think sometimes those thoughts come from a little bit of jealousy and comparison too.
And I also have to check MYSELF when I have that thought because, really, who am I to decide what qualifies as a “real job”?
Someone could look at me and say the exact same thing about my photography business. But what they wouldn’t see are the 15 years I’ve spent building something from the ground up. Photography was honestly a Godsend for me at a time when I was trying to figure out how I could contribute financially to our family while still being a stay-at-home mom and being present for my husband and kids. I truly believe God opened that door for me, and I’m incredibly thankful He did.
So I definitely don’t want to be a hypocrite and act like working for yourself or making money in a nontraditional way somehow isn’t a “real job.” I KNOW better than that.
I think where some of that thought comes from for me is seeing families whose entire income seems to depend on social media and influencing. In some cases, the influencer is the sole provider while their spouse stays home, and I catch myself thinking, What happens if social media changes tomorrow? What happens when the algorithm stops working in your favor, a platform goes down, or this whole influencer world changes?
That would TERRIFY me. 😂
But again…that’s me looking at someone else’s life through MY eyes and MY comfort zone. Obviously they’ve found something that works for their family, and some of these women have built incredibly successful businesses doing it. And honestly, good for them! If anything, maybe there’s something I can learn from them instead of judging them.
Because the truth is…I would LOVE to be more successful at selling online.
Outside of my photography business, I’m an affiliate with a few businesses, and especially during my slower photography months, I would love for those things to bring in some extra income for my family. But goodness gracious, selling anything on social media can be HARD.
Sometimes I feel like I could promote something until I’m blue in the face and hear crickets. Meanwhile, somebody else could post, “Hey y’all, I’m selling this toenail,” and 47 people would be like, “LINK PLEASE!!!” 😂😂😂
And I’m sitting over here thinking…WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?!
But that’s where comparison will get you.
Because I don’t know how long that person worked to build their following. I don’t know how many times they posted to crickets before people started listening. I don’t know what struggles happen behind their camera when the stories stop recording. And I certainly don’t know what God has planned for their life compared to what He has planned for mine.
Social media also makes it harder because when you own a business, you almost HAVE to be on it. I would love to say, “Just take a break from social media!” But when so much of your business depends on Facebook and social media algorithms deciding whether people even SEE what you post, completely stepping away isn’t always that simple.
So maybe this is just a reminder for myself as much as anyone else…
It’s okay to admire what someone else has built.
It’s okay to think, I would love to be able to do that.
It’s even okay to admit that sometimes jealousy creeps in.
But I don’t want someone else’s success to make me feel like I’m failing.
I have to keep putting my photography business, the other opportunities I’m involved in, and honestly my entire life in the Lord’s hands. I’ll keep working, keep showing up, keep trying and trust Him with the results.
Because someone else’s blessing doesn’t mean there isn’t one for me.
We have to be careful not to become so busy watching what God is doing in somebody else’s life that we miss what He’s doing in our own.
Your blessing may look completely different from theirs.
And yours might just be right around the corner. ❤️
