Friday Crush: On the Bright Side

Instagram is a funny place. “Highlight reel” of other’s lives is a phrase I’ve encountered a lot recently, and I do think it’s mostly true. Mostly. It makes sense. When you follow people whose “highlight reels”… and let’s be real, values and goals, don’t match your own, it becomes fertile ground for some terrible, all too familiar feelings of FOMO and jealousy. It can get pretty aggravating when your feed morphs into a toxic ecosystem that brings about anything but genuine “like.”

Am I right?

I actually happen to love Instagram as a medium for expression, but I’ve had to reframe how I approach it. After struggling with the highlight reel, I now think of the platform as a personal, curated gallery space, keeping in mind that these images are here to inspire feelings of buoyancy and peacefulness, not to drown us in constant lust. When I notice a pattern of nagging want that makes me feel more lacking than inspired — I guess you can call it mindful scrolling? — I allow myself to unfollow. Simple as that.

On that note, I have noticed that following accounts with a sunny outlook and a dash of realism resonates with me. They uplift my feed and can instantly improve my mood. Following these souls makes my scroll much better, I couldn’t not share them.

Stephanie Birch | @stephynow

You might remember those books, Chicken Soup for the Soul? If there were a modern, more sophisticated version of that series, it would be Stephanie’s feed. I wish I could print her passages and put them into a book, so I could turn to them whenever I need to remember that life is about the process.

In her words (captions from photos, left to right):

1. Move from your heart: return to breath, return to home. Incredibly grateful to be teaching tonight’s 6PM class at @yogashalasac – Arden location. Let’s connect with our breath and move from our heart tonight.

2. Authenticity: We don’t owe anyone anything. We don’t owe our answers, our explanations, our truths, our lies, our facades, or anything that requires us to drain ourselves. The only thing we owe ourselves is to be true to ourselves and entitles to making our own mistakes.

3. Pro-right vs. pro-love, on the internet: we are often quick to judge or create stories or scenarios about the lives of others. We share our voice and opinions and surely blast our own agendas on the inter-webs, we participate in screened comment threads hammering others into battle of right vs. wrong. Sometimes this little place can make people feel quite big and justified hiding behind their handheld devices. Some find comfort in faceless dialogue and thrill seek to point out the wrong of how many live their lives — on a square. Again, on a square.

What is it worth to spread hate or shame to people whom you’ve not met or embraced or felt their heart in their words or their actions. To call someone shameful over photo post on the damn Internet says more about you than it does the people you accuse. May we be less pro-right and live from a place being pro-love. Move from peace and react from love. #lovealltheway

Tania | @thewriting

I can’t remember how I first stumbled across this gem, but I’ve always had a thing for hand lettering. You can count on Tania to be real — her feed is spared of those saccharine mantras that seem to litter visual platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, and instead is chock-full of real life, real time, tough love (but full of love) truths.

In her words (captions from photos, left to right):

1. Thank you for watching: Thank you for watching … however, you should perhaps concentrate on furthering yourself instead of focusing on others – this is not a dig, it’s a push. The energy you waste on watching other live their lives is energy wasted and again you’re another day behind your goals.

2. On failure: Some inspiration for the night / day… I like to set myself up to fail, it’s a good way to keep things in perspective, failing is the worst that can happen and it’s actually not that bad at the end, you just try again.

3. Tomorrow doesn’t exist: today.

Rebecca Kennedy | @rksolidnyc

Before I found Rebecca on Instagram, I experienced one of her Barry’s Bootcamp classes. What blew me away was her attention to form — something thats far too often overlooked in the world of boutique fitness classes. Despite my quarter decade of life on planet Earth, she was the first to actually teach me proper running form (where to land on your foot, how big your strides should be and how to open your lungs after a big sprint, for example). She also embodies an amazing balance of self-love and motivation, something I always admire and personally strive for.

In her words (captions from photos, left to right):

1. Good habits. “At first you feel like you can’t live with it… And then you can’t imagine life without it.”

2. Mind over matter. If you don’t set goals, how can you crush them? Taking time today to reflect and make plans for my year ahead. You can do anything you put your mind to. Fill your head with doubts and you only create more obstacles to overcome. Fill your head with confidence and watch the power you possess to make things happen come to life.

3. Rituals. Do you enjoy the way your body functions, moves, feels and looks? I no to any of the above, start moving. If yes, keep moving.

Clementine Daily | @clementinedaily

Formerly lead by Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind, Clementine Daily honors the beauty in simple, every day moments. Following this lovely group of ladies is a gentle daily reminder to breathe deeply, live slowly and savor the moment.

In their words (captions from photos, left to right):

1. #Goals. It isn’t where you came from, it’s where you’re going that counts.

2. The journey. Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling.” Margaret Lee Runbeck

3. Give it your all. Whatever you are, be a good one. Abraham Lincoln.

Laura Miller | @imlauramiller

Sharp-witted and beauty-full inside and out, vegan Laura Miller is a new kind of artist. One part food stylist, one part costume designer, one part model, one part comedienne, she’s a

1. Technology. Limetooth.

2. Pretty pretty princess. Pom crown.

3. Femininity. Heirloom #froobs.

Who are your favorite follows?