Algorithms, Likes, Shares, and Stuff
Why I try not to pay attention to 'the machine' and why you shouldn't either.
This could be viewed as a ‘sour grapes’ post from someone who doesn’t have 3 gazillion followers. Or maybe there is something more to it…
There is nothing quite like looking at the dip in stats when we are hooked into social media. That sinking feeling, wondering why no one ‘liked’ the picture/post you found hilarious, deeply moving, or particularly insightful.
My facebook business page highlights stats regularly, bombarding my inbox with invitations to pay to boost posts; Google alerts me to how many engaged with my business page; my website sends analytics to show engagement; and even Substack, so dear to my heart, shows readership stats and posts about ‘hacks’. And yes, they can be useful.
And distracting.
Our powers of creation to manifest, exist in our focus.
I don’t want to write for the machine. I want to write to share what is relevant to me and what might also be of interest and informative for you, when it is in the right timing. Divine Timing.
The machine isn’t going to recognise this.
Yes, I could ‘smash out’ regular posts but in that there is a loss of the genuine self.
This week, I looked at a little dip in stats. Took a breath and sat with the human-ness behind it. It is true, there have been fewer posts, so less to read.
The machine doesn’t know that this week has been a whorl of energy, low, and slow, at times with an unfamiliar stillness to it. Much of it galactic though there have also been many signs from animal spirit guides. And I am told all is well - allow, don’t engage, stop, BE.
It doesn’t know of the support given to others this week to help them ‘hang in there’. Time spent connecting with people experiencing change.
And there is nothing more valuable than where we choose to gift our time.
The machine doesn’t know of the current urgency to clear out what no longer serves, particularly physical clutter.
It doesn’t know of the loss of a great-grandmother, a centenarian who is finally blessed with being able to depart the physical. Of the arrangements to attend a funeral 9 hours away. (It is a celebration not to be missed so please join me in seeing it this way.)
The machine doesn’t know of the ‘work’ in coming to grips with not overdoing things as I / we try to find a healthy balance between work, pleasure, and good health.
It doesn’t know how important it is to keep energetically balanced not only for myself, but so more can be shared with you.
It doesn’t know of any of the real life concerns of being human.
It is a machine.
Life is what is happening when we are not scrolling, angsting over followers, and catering to social media. The past year has been very clear about stepping out of social media and back into Life.
My promise is this:
I will not write an article simply for the sake of numbers and output.
I promise to respect the downloads, the timing of insights given and you, the reader, by keeping my contributions to Substack genuine, the real deal.
I promise to deliver articles in real time, rather than curated for the sake of stats, because I want to keep loving what I do.
Thank you Socials for the insight. But it is only the insight of the machine.
And thank you readers - I know each of you is here because it resonates in some way and I appreciate you.
Blessings
Michelle x
Michelle Cowles
Spiritual Leader/Teacher/Learner
Copyright Michelle Cowles 2024
Disclaimer: The information on this page is general, lifestyle information and should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If this article raises mental health issues, please contact your General Practitioner, mental health worker, or Lifeline on 13 11 14
Love this Michelle.
Beautifully put and deeply resonant, thank you angel. x