Why I love being cringy (and why you should too!)

It's easy to fall victim to the fear of judgment from others. We tend to hold back from expressing ourselves or pursuing our passions for fear of being labeled as "weird" or "cringy". But let me tell you… you should never let the fear of social judgment hold you back from pursuing a career in content creation. I know that can be easier said than done, but I have learned from experience - it’s worth it. I have been on YouTube for over 10 years and the majority of my older videos can only be described as awkward and cringy, but if I hadn’t started then (despite how others might have felt about it), I would never be where I am now. But, feeling cringe never truly goes away - it’s more about embracing it and loving yourself, cringe and all. Today, I want to talk to you about why I love being cringy, and why you should too…and I will give you some tips on how to get there. Let’s do this!

Why do we do everything we can to avoid feeling embarrassment or discomfort?

We all have tried to avoid feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable at some point in our lives. Discomfort is a sign that something in our environment could be a threat, so we pay attention to it. However, paying too much attention to discomfort isn't always good for us, right? Avoiding discomfort can lead us to miss out on opportunities to grow and develop, cough cough, like pursuing a career in content creation.

Discomfort is at the heart of self-defeating patterns like procrastination (dealing with procrastination as a content creator could be an entire episode in itself, let us know if that’s something you’d find helpful!) We avoid the discomfort of a task - like showing up in our stories for the first time or filming our first YouTube video - and do something more comfortable instead. Even if we know we would be better off doing the task now, we still avoid it because it seems uncomfortable.

If we avoid all discomfort, we won't experience the things that help us learn and grow. We can't just make the discomfort go away; it will always be there in some form. Instead, we just need to get better at dealing with discomfort and continuing with what's important when we feel it.

Dealing with discomfort is hard because we can imagine uncomfortable situations and let them guide our behavior. We might think "oh, my classmates from high school might see my video and that would be so embarrassing" and try to avoid feeling that way. But focusing on the uncomfortable feelings doesn't help us. We should focus on the experience itself, like how cool it will be to see your finished video up and posted on YouTube or receive your first comment from someone telling you how much they appreciate your content.

I know it sounds silly and so cliché, but creators have the power to change lives in such a positive way. Whether it's through inspiring stories, tutorials, or even just sharing their own experiences, we have the ability to provide support and guidance to our viewers. I have received countless messages and comments from people telling me how my videos have helped them or inspired them to pursue their passions. I had to learn to love my cringe and deal with my discomfort, but seeing how I have positively affected others gives me more fuel to keep going.

The struggle of trying publically to grow on social media, and not succeeding

Spending a long time publicly trying to grow on social media and not succeeding can be incredibly challenging and frustrating, trust me - if you know my story, you know I get it. When you invest all of your extra time and energy into creating content and building an audience, it can be disheartening to see slow or no growth.

Beyond that, even though we shouldn’t, we constantly compare ourselves to others who are more successful. Social media can be a highly competitive environment, and it's easy to feel like you're falling behind when you see other creators with more followers, more engagement, or more opportunities. This can lead to those feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt, which can be so difficult to overcome.

… and if all of that wasn’t hard enough, there is the discomfort in telling someone that you are a content creator, but only have 10 subscribers or followers. It makes you feel embarrassed becuase even though you have worked so hard, it just doesn’t sound “impressive enough”. Especially when you tell those who are not part of the content creator world don’t understand how truly hard it is to grow and don’t take you seriously until you have 10k or more. All of this might make you feel like a failure or inadequate (which spoiler alert, you’re not!) But even though you know how hard you’re working towards this goal, it doesn’t make all of this pressure any easier.

Overall, growing on social media is a long and difficult process, and success is not guaranteed. It takes persistence, hard work, and a willingness to learn and adapt. However, it's important to remember that the number of followers or subscribers you have does not define your worth or the quality of your content. The most important thing is to stay true to yourself, keep creating, and enjoy the process.

The power in not caring if people think your cringy

There is so much power in not caring if people think you're "cringy" for being on social media! One of the reasons is that it allows you to be true to yourself and your interests. When you're not worried about how others perceive you, you're free to explore your passions and share them with the world.

Social media can be a powerful tool for self-expression and creativity, but it can also be a breeding ground for negativity and criticism. When you're focused on creating content that you enjoy, rather than trying to please others, you're less likely to be affected by negative feedback or criticism.

Here’s the thing, when you embrace your authentic self and share your unique perspective, you may actually attract a more engaged and supportive audience. People are often drawn to individuals who are confident in themselves and their interests, even if those interests might be considered "cringy" by some.

Ultimately, the power in not caring if people think you're "cringy" for being on social media is that it allows you to live your life on your own terms and to create content that is truly meaningful and fulfilling to you. Yes, you.

How to stop caring as much and do the thing anyway

Pushing past the pressure and embarrassment of your friends and family thinking content creation is cringy can be challenging, but it's important to remember that creating content is a personal journey, and everyone's experience is different. You don't need anyone else's approval to pursue your passions and create content that you enjoy. Here are a few strategies that helped me over the years.

Focus on your motivation: Ask yourself why you want to create content in the first place. Is it because you enjoy it, because you want to share your passion with others, or because you want to build a community around a particular topic? Whatever your motivation, remind yourself of it when you feel discouraged or embarrassed.
Seek out supportive communities: Even though people from your local area might not understand you, your passions, or your decision to pursue content creation - there are people who do. You might actually find someone locally who is trying to grow on social media who has the same fears as you or if not, there are so many of us going through the same struggle - so you can even seek out some support online. And you want in on a little secret, I know exactly where you can find aspiring content creators to connect with… my platforms! Head over to my Instagram or YouTube, and start looking through the comments. Connect with each other. Reach out via DM. We can all be there for each other.
Set goals and track your progress: Setting achievable goals and tracking your progress can help you stay motivated and focused. I have been using Notion to do this, but you can even just write all of your goals down on a piece of paper. You can even set small monthly goals so you don’t feel too overwhelmed. Also, don’t forget to celebrate small victories along the way and use them as inspiration to keep going.
Embrace your unique perspective: Remember that your perspective and interests are what make your content unique. Embrace your individuality and use it to your advantage. When you first start on social media (or at least in my experience), you have these layers built up over you, almost like a more refined, robotic version of yourself. It’s almost like a mask. But, the longer you are on social media or on camera, the more layers you will find shed from you. It’s like you suddenly are this true version of yourself online that you hid for so long, that’s when you really start connecting with your audience and feel this new fire inside of you. Don’t hesitate to shed that mask a little sooner, I promise you won’t regret it.
Be confident in yourself and your content: Confidence is key when it comes to content creation. Believe in yourself and your abilities, and don't let the opinions of others hold you back. Remember that not everyone will appreciate or understand your content, and that's okay. Create good content and your community will find you.

It’s important to remember that content creation is a personal journey, and everyone's experience is different. You don't need anyone else's approval to pursue your passions and create content that you enjoy. Keep pushing forward and remember that your success is determined by your own standards, not anyone else's.

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It can be tough to pursue your passions when you feel like everyone else is doubting you or doesn't understand your vision. But remember, your dreams are yours alone, and you don't need anyone's approval to pursue them.

If you have a passion for creating content, whether it's through writing, video, or any other medium, don't let anyone stand in your way. Embrace your unique perspective and use it to create something that's truly one-of-a-kind. There will always be critics and naysayers, but ultimately, it's your own sense of fulfillment and joy that matters most.

Keep creating, keep pushing yourself to improve, and most importantly, keep following your dreams. You never know where they might lead you. Thanks again for listening, and we'll see you next time.