How to Outlast a Trend
When it comes to trends, there is no one trendier than yours truly.
I mean, look at this picture.
I’ve been setting trends since I was a toddler… Complete with my own T-shirt branding!
You’re welcome for that!
It’s laughable how many different trends I’ve jumped onto in my life. I’m sure you have some good ones too. From haircuts to clothing to dances to pranks to music - the list never ends! .
Do you remember, as a kid, having people you tried to imitate?
As a hockey player and a Detroit Red Wings fan, I wanted to be just like Sergei Fedorov.
I wanted to skate like him, score goals like him, wear the same style of gear as him, etc.
Sometimes we have trends or people we deliberately try to copy…
But often times, trends are copied and decisions are made without us even realizing it.
We’re all imitating something.
Whether its the way we grew up or the exposure we’ve had, we all have trends we imitate. And with so much vying for our attention, it’s important for us to recognize who and what we are following.
It’s like we’re all playing a game of follow the leader.
I’ve got a funny story about that game…
Follow the leader really is a great game, as long as you know where the leader is taking you! Maybe you, like me, have had trends or people take you somewhere you didn’t want to be.
In 8th grade, I went on my first roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. My friends were telling me it wouldn’t be that bad. Once I got on, I quickly realized that it was, in fact, going to be that bad.
Hating roller coasters + impeccable motion sickness timing = disaster.
As the roller coaster started moving, it was like a veil had been lifted. Suddenly, I could see more of the track that I couldn’t see before. This tiny seat that I was haphazardly strapped into was about to go places I did NOT want to go. And I couldn’t get off. I was just along for the ride.
Unknowingly, in a world full of subtletly, we can be on a track going places we never intended to go.
How do we get on track then?
How do we avoid falling victim to the latest trend or trends of our past?
We’re constantly bombarded with new everything. There’s a new trend every hour on tik-tok. Culture is trying to get our attention at every moment of every day. Our past wants to tell us we’re trending somewhere too. How can possible dilute it to be beneficial?
To understand, allow me to give you the example of a “funnel.”
The goal of a funnel is to take a large amount of substance and make sure it all ends up in the right place. Without a funnel, chances are the oil for your car would splash all over the engine or the bag of flour would cover more of the counter than it would end up in a jar.
With this last illustration in mind, consider the “jar” as the human you are growing to be become. Now, with the noise that is out there and the noise that exists internally, we need to work on filtering out what is taking us where we do not want to go.
Funnel Your Future.
Start with your Social Media.
Is who you’re following helping mold you into a better human?
I love using the word human there. I am of the belief that every one of us has a whole lot more in common then we don’t. Regardless of any belief system and background, we are all human. That approach is not only strengthened my desire to be empathic but also my passion to call out a lack of it. Sometimes, we’re prone to get caught only seeing like-minded people on our timeline. We follow people and trends that don’t stretch to grow but who keep us safe. Our timeline can be very telling. It exposes who we try to emulate and who we are learning from. In a way, our timeline tells us who we are slowly becoming. Who is on your timeline?
Is what you’re seeing helping mold you into a better human?
Comparison is fun, isn’t it? *sarcasm for those who don’t know me well yet.
For some of us - comparison is a motivator. From most of us - it’s a depressant. The problem with using comparison as a motivator is there is no actual target to aim for. It’s constantly moving. That’s what our exposure to social media can do and is doing. What we see is far too often what we try to do and be. Social media is a wonderful thing! I really do believe that. But two things can be true. And I also believe that it’s keeping way too many of us consumed by what others are doing. We’re (unknowingly at times) handing over our days to what we’re told we should be and do. Forget about what’s trending, what do you enjoy and what do YOU want to do?
Do not forfeit your future growth and health for a moment that fades.
Cultivate your Circle.
Is who you spend the most time with helping mold you into a better human?
Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. It’s a famous and popular quote for a reason. Those whom you have allowed access and permission to speak into your life are, whether we like it or not, are helping shape who we become. That is your circle. When you hear “speaking into your life” that doesn’t necessarily mean a life-coach or pastoral figure. That means the people you share a lunch table with. The ones you watch movies or football games with. Are you intentional with who is closest to you? Have cultivated a circle around you with people going the same direction as you?
Is what you do with most of your time helping mold you into a better human?
If we were to write out the 5 actions of our day that we spend the most time doing, what would they be? I’m ashamed whenever I look at the “screen time” setting on my phone. Your phone will tell you exactly how long you spend on it and how you use your time. Wordle is really living in my head rent free these days. I don’t know if I’d like my top 5. And I’m not sure worrying about how to fit or model a trend is helping me find sustainable growth as a person. Time worried is time wasted. Too often, I learn that the hard way. Hobbies, trends, etc. are good things! Allowing them to control our thought life and consume our day, however, is not.
Trends are cool.
Sustainable health and growth are cooler.
With these questions above, what changes (if any) are you considering?
Find and Follow
| Who and What |
Funnel Health and Growth