Stefan Zweig’s novel, The Post-Office Girl, centers around Christine, a post-office clerk in a small Austrian town grappling with the aftermath of World War I. Her life changes dramatically when she is invited to holiday in Switzerland by her wealthy American aunt and uncle. Suddenly, Christine becomes acutely aware of her own poverty. To fit into this new world, she must change her clothes, her manners, and even her name. When she returns home, she is overwhelmed by the mediocrity of her life.

Today, we are constantly confronted with images of luxury lifestyles on social media. It seems everyone is living their best life, with smiles, laughter, and perfectly filtered pictures. It’s tempting to want to live in this virtual paradise, where popularity is everything. If your life is not truly satisfying, you might soon feel envy and resentment, much like Christine.

It’s important to remember that social media is a form of storytelling, not reality. The audience is often made up of kids and teens, who are forced to live vicariously through others. Before social media, movies had a similar impact on behavior. People identified with the stars on the screen. Today, with everyone curating their own online presence, it’s easy to focus on what is missing in our lives.

However, stepping away from social media allows you to stop comparing yourself to these idealistic portrayals. You will realize that life has much more to offer. Create your own rules for happiness if you are dissatisfied with what you see online. Hopefully, you will find someone whose values align with yours to follow.