by Marianna Paulson of Change of Heart Stress Solutions (@AuntieStress)
How to prevent yourself from becoming scrambled.
Anyone who has spent more than 5 minutes on Twitter recognizes that blue bird. And, like any bird, it began life as an egg. Fortunately, one that didn’t crack and end up scrambled!
Just as in life, there are stages of learning & growth on Twitter.
My invitation to Twitter came from that brilliant international branding bird @coffee_offline who said, “Just Do It! You’ll love it!.” (I’ll leave it to you to delve into her background!)
Admittedly, my initial thoughts were, “What am I going to do with this?” Fortunately, I know how to overcome those limiting thoughts. I recognized those triplets named Doubt, Impossibility & Fear, who are cousins to Stress. (Have your invitations to Twitter been ignored? Consider the possibility that the benefits were over-shadowed by one of the aforementioned emotions.)
Here are my observations & suggestions to help you on your way:
The follower affliction
“I have 3 gazillion followers.” “I’ve lost 2 followers!” This constant score-keeping (egg-counting?) may contribute to the one basket effect. The stress basket. Consider these questions: Does your self-esteem rise and fall on the number of followers you have? Do you feel like it’s a competition? Is it quality or quantity? Are you interacting or number-watching?
Become aware of what is going on internally as you watch the numbers. Remember that your body is constantly reacting to your thoughts and emotions. The physical and chemical adjustments that are being made affect your emotional, mental and physical health. If your response to “Oh” is “Oh, that’s interesting!” versus, “Oh Oh!” your perception is likely causing you stress.
Twitter is about caring.
When we’re stressed, we lose the ability to care about not only ourselves but also our neighbours. We were able to witness a phenomenal act of giving when @Armano reached out & asked for help for #Daniela. There are similar stories, no less important, that occur on Twitter on a daily basis.
Many will never know how something they tweeted has provided someone with much-needed encouragement or help. If you’ve been helped by someone, I strongly urge you to let them know. This creates a “reverberational effect.” A very measurable change in heart rhythms occurs when we activate positive emotions. Life gets better, not only for you, but also for those with whom you come into contact.
Twitter is a society
And as in any society, there are responsibilities. Customs, traditions, folkways and mores provide us with guidance & rules. We are free to conduct ourselves as we see fit, however, there can be repercussions to our behaviour. There are those who are pushed out of the nest by the community for abusing this fine flock. As in the avian world, this “shove” can be a necessary part of growth.
In addition to Twitip, & the Twitter community itself, there are plenty of sites and blogs offering advice to ensure that you find your wings and fly.
Twitterunity
The heart of it is the ability to make connections and to communicate. Stress can cause us to be isolated. Twitter is an excellent forum that will allow you to emerge from your shell, find your voice and develop confidence. How wonderful to be able to leave the nest and fly to new heights! Who knows what you’ll see!
We are all in this together
When we appreciate the community that we’re all a part of, we learn. People are opening their hearts on Twitter. This fosters understanding and also acceptance. I see an openness that crosses cultures, political beliefs, religion & more. We don’t all think the same way & that makes for great discussion and sharing and I believe it leads to fewer struggles. A multi-coloured flock is far more interesting, as well!
Balance
Stress transformation is about balance; not only of your nervous system, but also your life. Wouldn’t you agree that Twitter is also about balance?
Here is the formula I use, based on 3 months of tweeting experience:
- Welcome
- Inspire
- Communicate
- Share and gather information
- Humour connects
- Ask questions
- Promote
- Celebrate
- Credit where it’s due: Retweet
- Thank
On that note, my heartfelt thanks to Darren Rowse, Kathrin Hardie and the creative developers of Twitter!
Photo: Courtesy of Artem Zhushman
@farrhad
Great post, will keep it in mind while tweeting.
@Orionjoel
This is a good reflection on what i had been thinking, there is maybe a little to much caring about how many people are following you. I know what my count is but i hardly obsess over it, i know it goes up and down, such is life.
Thank-you for the post.
@allaboutenergy
I love your take on twitter! I love your formula, it’s one I try to use. Excellent advice for all Tweeps, especially newbies.
Only thing you neglected to mention is that Twitter is the Lay’s Potato Chip of the Social Media world – You CAN’T have just one! (Tweet that is….. )
In Tweet,
Amy
@crimminsc
Growing up a preachers kid, its easy to feel like twitter is almost a new congregation, all encompassing, overwhelming. Thanks for the great tips and the permission to relax. It will make this society much more welcoming.
@benhigham
Great post, I especially like the part about balance. I think my Twitter stress is caused more by how it distracts me from my work.
@tessgiles
I really like this post, think it has a great deal of good advice. Having been initially sceptical of Twitter, I’ve come to really love it for the madcap variety of information and interests. This sounds a bit cheesy, but it makes me feel closer to people around the world.
For example it was through Darren’s tweets this morning that I realised just how serious the Australian fires really are, and I thought at the time how our physical human circumstances differ, but at heart we’re all one people.
I made a decision right at the beginning not to stress about who and how many people are following me. If I’m interested in others, that’s more important. (Oh dear, does that sound a bit pompous??)
@HelenaRitchie
Great post, and great tips. Love your thoughts on Twitterunity and letting people know how what they say affects you. I just blogged about how Twitter has helped me come out of my shell last night.
@ConHake
As much as we communicate back and forth, each exchange with you adds to my understanding. This post is a great example.
Twitter is only as good as your relationship with the experience. You’ve furthered mine with clear understanding of what it offers me and what I can offer to the community.
Your friendship is proof positive that quality definitely trumps quantity. As always, thanks for the perspective!
@brandonacox
I love your ten suggestions! I can process these words and phrases and they stick with me. Thanks for the way you put it!
@TracyOConnor
I think a saving grace of Twitter for me is that the numbers are so large (700 followers? That’s just ridiculous) that I tend to focus on the people I’ve made a genuine connection with and have a matter of fact attitude towards those that fall by the wayside. It’s a situation where all I can do is all I can do and there is a certain peace that comes from that.
This is probably also why I prefer to live in big cities!
Marianna
I like your formula for using twitter. Seems like a great stategy.
Thanks for the outline.
Gary McElwain
@terribleted66
Great post, I started using Twitter in December and it immediately consumed me, I am back to trying for balance and make using Twitter part of my routine. Twitter is useful and Twitter can suck up a lot of time. Love to keep hearing how others are balancing their use of Twitter.
Ted
Twitter : terribleted66
@ScottWilliams
The 10 Step formula is good… I persoanlly don’t react to the follow/unfollow numbers. I tweet, if you like you stay… quite simple!
@frank_souders
I accept your formula as a statement of elements that more people should incorporate into whatever forms of communication they use. It certainly extends well beyond the limits of the known Twitterverse. Thank you.
@barrymoltz
Right On! Thanks for helping me see the light!
@crazeegeekchick
I loved this post. I recently wrote something similar when I had what I call a “twitter meltdown”. ( http://crazeegeekchick.com/blog/when-twitter-stops-adding-value/ )
Granted there were lots of other things going on in my life, but the stress just completely sucked all the value from Twitter for me. It wasn’t until I re-aligned my priorities that I was able to enjoy the little blue birdy once more! Thanks for a POSITIVE post!
@thebenchs
good post thank you a lot.
@AuntieStress
Wow! I’m activating #10 right now!
A big Canadian heart-felt thanks goes out to all of you!
Amy – ‘Tis true, you just can’t have one! LOL! (#5)
Helena & Dana – To use “Twitter-speak,” I’ll mosey on over to your blogs tomorrow. (#4)
Frank – Wonderful comment about these tips not only applying to Twitter. (#9)
Farrhad, Brandon, Barry & Garry – Your words have provided music for this particular blogger’s ears! (#10)
Ben & Ted – By developing awareness, you’ll find the Twitter strategy that works for you. Remember it’s about making it work for you & when it no longer works, you can change it! (Balance)
Tess, Tracy, “No Fixed Office” & Scott. Auntie Stress gives you full marks for your healthy perspectives on the use of Twitter. “I’ve come to really love it…” ” All I can do, is all I can do.” “I tweet, if you like, you stay.” “I know it goes up and down, such is life.” (The follower affliction)
Chris – “…the permission to relax.” You bring up a great point. When we are calmer & happier, we tend to do better, regardless of what we are doing. (We are all in this together)
Conrad – You are just one example of the friendships I’m growing through my Twitterunity and by the way, it is a two-way street!
This is exactly what I had in mind when I wrote that Twitter is about caring. You’ve cared enough to share some of your experiences and to leave comments that create that “reverberational effect” that I was talking about.
@AuntieStress
Hector I’m celebrating that I get to practise using HTML again & thank you for your comment! (#8)
@meryl333
Left you a twitter comment. Have had many coaches follow and they’ve mostly been a bore. You’re tweets & blog are terrific and your twitter advice is spot on. Good reason to believe your love savviness will be in big demand as well.
@wconsultation
I am thanking all my followers today and hopefully will be able to increase the number. Without followers, there is no meaning in twittering at all.
Meryl , thanks for your vote of confidence!
Sarah, I am in agreement that we need to be followed and to follow.\
My questions were to do with how one perceives the rise and fall of those numbers and to be aware that the emotional fall-out can create stress.
@satyadeo
Great post, will keep it in mind while tweeting !!
I am thanking all my followers today and hopefully will be able to increase the number.