Combating Negativity in Society

12-5-14

       We have become brainwashed by the media. Our minds have become tainted with the overwhelming pessimistic thoughts and attitudes that are constantly imposed upon us. Covers of magazines telling us we aren’t pretty, smart or talented enough. Pop up ads and website links enticing us to find out how we can improve ourselves flood our online experiences. Articles implying that everyone else is somehow better than we are prey on our insecurities and weaknesses. We become fixated on the images and stories that the media is broadcasting, but we don’t ever stop to wonder if it a true reality.
       Negativity has unfortunately become a common trend in our communities. Sadly, due to this increased negativity, it is estimated that one in ten people in the United States suffers from depression (“An Estimated 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Report Depression”). This is no surprise, however, because our expectations of others have been raised by the social media sites, magazines, and television shows with which our culture has become infatuated. These mediums tend to falsely portray people, or only focus on the good aspects of their lives. Now, people who are already insecure about their life look upon these portrayals and begin comparing their seemingly mediocre lives to other “perfect” ones. No wonder there are increasing rates of depression in our society. Instead of trying to make everyone perfect, I believe we need to focus on celebrating what makes us all unique. If we began taking steps towards eliminating this pessimism out of our lives, our society will be happier and have a better outlook for their futures.
       Social media, specifically Facebook, has become a big contributing factor to society’s depression and anxiety. Recent research by Leodoro Labrague, Associate Dean at Samar State University, proves, “high usage of Facebook, frequency of status updates, and update intensity to be negatively related to self-esteem.” People who are constantly using Facebook tend to be shy and live lonelier lives (Labrague). These people don’t usually post the sad and unhappy events of the day, but mostly the moments that make their life sound wonderful and exciting. They will only post a picture if they look good, and sometimes will even use special filters and editing to make themselves look better.
     
     Pages in magazines are often filled with photo-shopped models giving you advice on how to improve your body and life. Psychology researchers, Marian Morry and Sandra Staska, studied the effects these unrealistic expectations have on the human mind. They concluded that, “magazine exposure is associated with the internalization of the ideal form as thin for women and physically fit for men” which leads people to be more concerned with their physical appearance (Marian). These distorted perceptions of body size makes us dissatisfied with our own bodies and lowers our self-esteem (Marian). When I was in middle school, one of my good friends developed an eating disorder because she believed that she was fat. She was one of the skinniest people that I knew, but every time she opened a magazine and saw a flawless model in the centerfold, she became more obsessed with manipulating her own body so she could try and meet that unobtainable standard. What she didn’t understand at the time was that due to professional editing, not even the model in the magazine looks like she does in those pictures in real life. Her road to recovery began when she got professional guidance to help her understand that her thoughts were distorted and misled by false images of perfection. She was told to focus on the positive things in her life, starting with things she liked about herself and her life and not relying on magazines for inspiration. She started to eliminate the other things in her life that made her doubt herself.
       The stress of our day to day lives can also be overwhelming at times. School, work, relationships and money all build up pressure and make many people become depressed. In a study conducted by Jenn Carl, psychiatry professor at Boston University, the effects of depression were analyzed via online survey. The participants in this research were asked to write about something positive that happened to them every day, and then send their responses to Carl for analysis (Carl). The results showed that people who took the time to reflect on one good event every day, no matter how small, had significantly lower cases of depression and anxiety (Carl). While we might be overwhelmed with the negative aspects of the media, if we take a minute to step back and look at only the positive aspects, we will live happier and more fulfilling lives.
       The solution to this negative epidemic is simpler than we might think, and we can help our community overcome this trend. We can override bad thoughts by replacing them with good ones. April Durrett, editor for the Idea Health and Fitness Association, says that maintaining positive thoughts can actually improve our health and overall outlook on life. By keeping our head clear of negative feelings, we leave room for ones that will help us sustain a healthy optimistic attitude.
        I believe if we had places in public where people could write down positive messages, our society would generally be happier. With less than $10,000, we can build “Positive Stations” in parks around Laguna Niguel. These would be standard memo boards with a little roof and sliding plastic doors to protect the surface from getting wet in the rain. The boards are $285.00 each, push pins are $2.00 for a hundred, markers are $7.30 for a pack of 12, and paper is $52.00 for a case with 5,000 sheets. Placing one of each of these in Laguna Niguel’s thirty-three parks would only cost $9,763.90. People could write about something exciting that happened to them that day, a happy memory, a piece of advice, or even an inspiring quote. They could post about anything they wanted, as long as it is delivering a positive message. In the station, there would be pieces of paper, markers, and pins for them to use, or they can personalize their posts and use their own materials. At the love lock bridge in Paris, lovers put a lock on the bridge and throw the key into the Seine River to declare their undying love for each other. The Western Wall in Jerusalem is a holy place where men and women put their prayers in hopes that they will be answered by God. Your positive stations will reflect these iconic places, and serve as places where people can be hopeful and inspired.
       These stations will help culture a more optimistic community. In a study by researchers and

psychology professors, James Pennebaker and Richard Slatcher, the effects of expressive writing were evaluated in regards to maintaining healthy relationships. In their research, they had different groups of people perform various daily writing exercises in order to determine the extent writing positively had on their emotional wellbeing (Pennebaker). The results made it clear that writing down optimistic thoughts and ideas is beneficial to our social lives and cognitive health (Pennebaker). So by posting their ideas, and reading the good things others had to say, people will generate a better outlook on life. Emily Sohn, author and journalist for Discovery News, also agrees with this idea. She claims that by just writing down our aspirations, we create a positive outcome regarding our thoughts about the past, present, and also a new optimistic outlook on the future (Sohn). While many people will enjoy having this new opportunity to connect with their community, others might not be so keen on the idea.
   
  Naturally, not all people will be willing to write about their personal life as well as posting it for everyone to read, and some might choose to write about negative thoughts or events. However bad posts can be a good thing as well because others can give people who post negative things advice to help them either overcome hardships in their lives or inspire them to start thinking positively. According to Belle Cooper, writer for the Huffington Post and Time Magazine, “positive emotions are more likely to encourage people to plan ahead and think of actions they would like to take or activities they’d like to participate in the future.” Therefore, by steering people on the road to having a more optimistic attitude, they are more likely to reevaluate what they really want in life in order to make themselves happy (Cooper). Also, Karen Lawson, president of American Holistic Medical Association and Diplomat of the American Board of Holistic Medicine, states that, “helping others has been scientifically proven to boost your own mood and lengthen your lifespan” (Lawson). So, by helping others, people will then feel better about themselves.
       Despite the fact that negativity has become an unfortunate trend in our society, there is a relatively simple solution to help us overcome these pessimistic ideals. These “Positive Stations” will create a ripple effect that will encourage other communities to build their own as well.

 
Works Cited

"An Estimated 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Report Depression." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31 Mar. 2011. Web.      17 Nov. 2014.
Carl, Jenn. "The Effects of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms on Daily Positive Emotion Regulation." Journal of Psychopathology & Behavioral Assessment 36.2         (2014): 224-236. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
Cooper, Belle B. "How To Make Positivity a Habit: 4 Simple Steps to a Happier Everyday Life." Buffer Social. Buffer, 26 Aug. 2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
Durrett, April. "Conquering a negative mood: having a bad day? Learn how positive thinking--and other mindful strategies--can help." IDEA Fitness Journal July-        Aug. 2007. Academic OneFile. Web. 16                            Nov. 2014.
Labrague, Leodoro J. "Facebook Use and Adolescents' Emotional States of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress." Health Science Journal, 8.1 (2014): 80. Web. 20 Nov. 2014
Lawson, Karen, MD. "Increase Positivity." Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing. Regents of the University of Minnesota and Charlson Meadows, 28 Aug.               2013. Web. 13 Nov. 2014.
Morry, Marian M., and Sandra L. Staska. "Magazine Exposure: Internalization, Self-Objectification, Eating Attitudes, and Body Satisfaction In Male And Female              University Students." Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science 33.4 (2001): 269-279. PsycARTICLES. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
Pennebaker, James W. and Richard B. Slatcher. "How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Words: The Social Effects of Expressive Writing." Psychological Science           17.8 (2006): 660-664. Sage Journals. Web. 16 November 2014.
Sohn, Emily. "A Recipe for Happiness." Science News for Kids (2007): 1. Primary Search EBSCO. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.

A Picture Perfect Form of Communication

11-7-14

       Technology allows our lives to be constantly connected to people and to instant information. We continue to network ourselves via texting and through social media such as Instagram. While relatively new to the world of social media, the Instagram app has become widely popular amongst members of the millennial generation, and now has over 150 million active monthly users (Hof). Its photo-based medium is well-liked and easy to navigate. While critics argue that this app is distorting our opinion of people’s lives, it is said that our altered perceptions of people all depend on the photos that they choose to share (Byrne). Ultimately, Instagram has positively affected the millennial generation by allowing us to connect faster and easier.
       Instagram has become an important part of millennials daily routine. They are the first generation to use social media as a necessary communication tool, and now more than three-quarters of millennials have a profile on one of these networking sites (Seppan). Now, members of this generation want to take pictures whenever they feel like they are doing something interesting. Older generations find this habit annoying and don’t understand why we think it is beneficial to our lives. Since we take so many pictures, we are essentially documenting our lives through visual memories. We are able to look back on our electronic profiles, have a constant reminder of memories we have made, and are able to remember these moments instead of them slowly fading out of our minds. For me, I post pictures of both big and small moments on my Instagram. Small moments are often more sentimental, but tend to get lost in the shadows of my big memories. One of these small memories that I would have forgotten about had I not posted a picture on Instagram, was of an evening walk to the park with my sister and dog. We do this often, but one day, my sister and I decided to walk a little bit further so we could sit on the shore of the community lake. While resting on the sand, we talked for over an hour about our lives, college, funny memories, and random inside jokes. Before we decided to go home, my sister and I took a picture of my dog by the water and posted it on Instagram. Now, even though we are thousands of miles away from each other, I can still hear her laughter and remember our light-hearted conversation every time I see that picture on my profile. While we think that this is a suitable way of communicating our experiences with others, other generations are not so sure.
     
Where previous generations were thrilled to talk on the phone as their primary source of communication, millennials rarely speak on the phone, and prefer to communicate via photos. While text posts are informative and sometimes humorous, we now “want to share photos to describe life experiences” that words cannot explain (Hof). According to Jessi Hempel, senior writer for Fortune magazine, Millennials love this app because their generation is used to a “more visual style of communication.” Pictures are able to communicate far more than words can, which brings to mind the cliché, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”
       Instagram motivates us to take pictures of what is happening in our everyday lives, and then share these images with our followers. Now we can converse with new people all over the world and learn about their lives and culture. New York Times journalist, Nick Bilton also claims that we can “engage in chatty conversations with strangers around the globe about their images.” In addition to learning about new people, we are also being constantly updated on what our family and friends are doing. This allows us to feel more connected regardless of how long it’s been since we spoke with them or how far away they are. Family in other states and even countries can have immediate access to what is going on in my life just by opening up this app. Since my friends and I started college, we haven’t seen each other, and I have only talked on the phone with a couple of them. However, I still know what is happening in their lives because of the pictures they share on Instagram. I know what sorority or fraternity they joined, who some of their friends are, and even what fun stuff they do in their spare time. These relationships that we build with others don’t always have to end with distance. Millennials have learned that the pictures on their profiles can even help them connect with their friends, and also help them network with professionals in the workforce.
       Due to the millennial generation’s appeal to technology, companies have adjusted their hiring processes and marketing campaigns (Maroney). Employers have learned that they can gather a lot of information about an applicant based on their social media accounts (Maroney). In fact, according to Greg Beaubien, writer for the Chicago Tribune, “a job candidate’s first –and possibly last –chance to make an impression is on these image-sharing apps.” This allows companies to gauge an applicant’s personality prior to interviewing (Beaubien). Also while scrolling through my followers’ posts, I might occasionally come across an ad. These ads range from pictures of food promoting a new restaurant’s menu or even pictures of models wearing clothes from a new department; all of which seem to be trending amongst millennials. These new marketing techniques allow companies to communicate faster and easier with the millennial generation, and encourage them to showcase their artistic talent.
       Instagram has helped to produce a generation of users who are more interested in photography because of the options they have with editing tools (Hempel).  Because of the simplicity of these filters, “Instagram let mainstream web users become -- or at least do an impression of -- good photographers. Regular people were now able to manipulate their photographs to reflect ideas and feelings” (Hempel). Recently, I noticed that Instagram also added more editing options which allow users to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, and other specific tools. Now people have the tools available to make their photos look more professional. Instagram has become more popular than many of the other camera filter apps due to its “ease of use and balance of simplicity, speed and artistic fibers” (Bilton). Perhaps the reason millennials are so infatuated with posting pictures is because they are proud of the piece of art that they created by using these features.
       Despite the overwhelming popularity of this social app, Instagram also has many critics who are skeptical of the constant use by our generation. Some argue that the personalities of millennials are becoming narcissistic due to their constant need to post photos of themselves online. Also, it’s hard to judge someone’s true personality just by looking at their Instagram profile. Many people will post photos documenting all of the incredibly interesting things that happen in their lives and leave out all of their mediocre day to day activities. With our skewed perspective, we then begin comparing our average lives with the seemingly perfect lives of the people we follow. This routine is demonstrated by Mark Byrne, writer for New York Magazine and various online blogs, who talks about his first post on Instagram, “The first picture I took, later that night, was of a bottle of wine. I don't even like wine, and it wasn't my bottle. But no one needed to know that.” By sharing this information with his followers, he is posting a false portrayal of his lifestyle.

     However, it is ok to be proud of what you post online, even if it’s silly or too “perfect”. I am also one of those people who posts about random moments of my day. I believe the key is balance. The millennial generation needs to learn that it is ok to be average! It is ok to post a picture of yourself laying under the sun on a beach in Hawaii or one of your group of friends dressed in spirit wear at your school’s rival soccer game. Instagram is your own visual diary that you can share with the world (Hempel). Just don’t make your entire profile one cheesy vacation picture after another. Include a picture of you studying for your finals in the library or you enjoying a hot cup of tea after a long day. These self-deprecating photographs will relate more to others because they are realistic (Byrne). Instagram is altering our perspective on what it means to be human to imply that we are all perfect.
       Despite some criticisms, Instagram has helped shape the millennial generation for the better. This form of communication keeps us connected with our family and friends, and also allows us to get a taste of cultures in different parts of the country. It has given us the tools we need to create professional looking photographs, and then to share these images around the world. Therefore, Instagram has shaped the millennials into a generation that is by far the most well networked group of individuals our society has ever seen.

 
Works Cited

Beaubien, Greg. “Visual Creatives Using Instagram as Portfolio.” Public Relations Tactics. 21.5. EBSCO. May 2014. Web. 26 Oct. 2014
Bilton, Nick. "A Million Users for Instagram." New York Times (1923-Current file). Dec 27 2010. ProQuest. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.
Byrne, Mark. "Warning: You Might Be an Insta-Dick." GQ. Condé Nast, June 2013. Web. 25 Oct. 2014.
Hempel, Jessi. “Instagram is Ready to Take its Shot.” Fortune. 170.1 (2014): 72-78. EBSCO. Web. 26 Oct. 2014
Hoff, Robert. "So Much For Facebook Ruining Instagram - It Just Hit 150 Million Monthly Active Users." Forbes Magazine, 8 Sept. 2013. n. pag. Web. 30 Oct.           2014.
Hussey, Matthew. "What Does Your Instagram Filters Say about You?" Apowl. A Parliament of Owls, 28 Mar. 2013. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
Maroney, Lindsey. "Targeting the Millennial Consumer." CMBinfo. Chadwick Martin Bailey Research, 21 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.
Seppanen, Sally. "The Millennial Generation Research Review." U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. National Chamber Foundation, 2012. Web. 30 Oct.                2014.

Time Machine

10-14-2014

      A wooden swing sways gracefully from the limb of a towering oak tree. Battered and shabby, it is supported by a blue and white knotted rope, providing an escape to those adventurous enough to make the climb. Once visited, I don’t always have to endure the long trek to the top of the hill in order to enjoy the beauty of this scene. Sometimes I can teleport back through my mind and experience the same moment. Imagine having a time machine that is with me wherever I go. I can travel the world while sitting in a tedious math class or lounging under a shady tree. I have these images from places where I feel at peace purposefully frozen mind, and I travel to them whenever I need a break from my everyday routine. Recently I’ve added a new escape to my time machine. This sanctuary is called “Serenity Swing”, and it is in a place that I call home.
      When I was eight years old, I went on my first journey through time. I was in a castle in Ireland with my mom and sister, and we were having scones and tea for breakfast. We lounged in the elegance of lavish décor and listened to aristocratic travelers exchange stories of their voyages. Wine colored velvet curtains graced the windows and blocked the morning sunrise from impairing our view of this perfect scene. My mother leaned over to me and said, “Lauren, close your eyes and immerse yourself in this moment. Capture every detail so you can make a happy memory for later”. I see myself in this second, and begin reliving every detail in the scene around me. The crumbs on my sister’s lap from biting off more scone than she could chew, the youthful smile on my mother’s serene face, the smell of freshly baked pastries ,and of course, the stillness of the air that allowed me to pause that moment. After a minute, the scene unfreezes and I resumed my time in paradise.
       This is only one of the memories that I store in the software of my time machine. Special moments like these are difficult to find, but once captured, can be treasured forever.
       After making a big move to San Luis Obispo, I yearned to find a new snapshot for my collection. There are so many beautiful places here, which made it hard to decide on the first place I was to explore. After collaborating with some upperclassmen about their favorite places, I heard many of them say, “Hiking to Serenity Swing should definitely be on the bucket list for your first year at Cal Poly”.  Everyone had agreed that, while moderately difficult, this was one of the most beautiful hikes and views in San Luis Obispo.
       I gathered my roommates and some close friends together, and the next morning we embarked on this adventure. We chose to go in the morning in order to beat the heat of the day, and despite some annoyed looks I received for waking up so early, we were all thankful for the crisp morning air as the incline increased. We weren’t lucky for long, because soon the sun beamed high above us and made me with that I had applied sunscreen that morning.
       The flat paved ground turned to loose dirt and soon trees lined the trail. After we left the comfort of the shaded pathway, we began hiking the slope towards the speck of a tree in the distance; our destination. The incline was tough, and soon we were all heavily breathing in the musty air. It was evident that this was a popular path to take, as shown by the worn trail between the dried, shin-high grasses. While the ground was relatively level most of the way, I would occasionally have to dodge a scattered pile of rocks, or a mound of cow dung.
       We reached a water trough that was used to hydrate the cows that wandered the hills, and decided to take a quick break. We could hear cows protesting our encroachment on their terrain in the distance and smell the ripe scent of their manure that littered the hillside.
       Once we caught our breath, we continued on our journey. However, there was a point where the path continued, but it was a little out of the way of our destination. Eager to spice up our adventure, we decided to take a more direct route that involved a steeper slope. “Robert Frost would be proud”, I thought to myself as we steered off the trodden path and into the tall grass.
   

   This path certainly was faster than the original, but it was more complicated as well. We quickly found ourselves climbing over a rocky terrain as our feet skid in the loose dirt. One last lurch and I was on the top of the slope. I glanced down the path and my eyes gazed upon the great oak tree with two swings gently swaying in the light breeze.
       One swing was old, wooden and dirty, while the other was your typical playground swing, with a green plastic seat that hung from a yellow chain. Both were so eloquently placed with their own beauty and purpose. The plastic swing had been placed in front of the wooden one, therefore impairing its view of the rolling hills. This reminded me of how our society is advancing, but along the way we have begun to push away our old values and ways of living for more modern replacements. Sure the green swing is new and shiny, but the wooden one has been embedded with many more memories that its plastic counterpart would never experience.
       Valuing a more traditional path, I chose the wooden swing. I sat there with the wind blowing through my long, brown hair and my feet dangling above the ground. In my head, I heard my mother’s voice telling me to close my eyes. This was the moment. This was the experience I had been searching for. I tasted the salty sweat on my tongue, heard the leaves brushing against each other in the fall breeze, and felt the sun warming my legs as I swung them back and forth. I opened my eyes to see beautiful San Luis Obispo, with its endless peaks and valleys. The scene was already perfectly frozen, making it easy to capture. A moment passes and then the image is permanently stored in my mind, waiting for the next time I can relive its extravagance.

About Me

     Hello! My name is Lauren, and this blog is dedicated to my development as a writer. Here is a little bit about me! 

My playful pup, Sampson.

     Currently, I am Animal Science major with a focus in Pre-Veterinary Medicine at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. I have a passion for animals and would like to spend my life helping them as much as I can. I love drinking tea, especially when I’m curled reading a good book. Going along with these two interests, one of my favorite quotes is, “You could never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me” by C.S. Lewis.  For music, country is my favorite, but I also enjoy classic jazz, soft rock, and some indie and pop. Also, fall is personally my favorite time of the year because of the pumpkin-flavored food, rainy weather, and scrumptious scented candles.     

Me on my 2012 trip to France

Traveling is undoubtedly my favorite pastime. I have been to fifteen of the fifty states, and internationally I have visited France, Italy, England, Ireland, Germany, Mexico, and South Africa. I have a soft spot for the French countryside and completely fell in love with their culture after my first trip to Bergerac. 
     My inspiration for writing comes from my aspirations, observations, and relentless curiosity.  I prefer creative writing in order to let my imagination run wild, however I will also write papers that contain my research. As a writer, I enjoy being descriptive and hope that after reading my work, people will view the world in more hopeful and optimistic light.