Is Your Bad Energy About Social Media Keeping You from Getting the Attention You Deserve?

Blog by Jada Parrish | Article | 09/04/24

Social media can feel like a double-edged sword. On one side, it offers endless opportunities to connect, engage, and grow your brand or business. But on the other, it can be incredibly overwhelming, especially if you approach it with the wrong mindset. If you’re feeling frustrated by a lack of engagement or reach, it’s worth asking yourself: Is your negative attitude toward social media holding you back?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my journey on Instagram, it’s that success doesn’t come easy—but it is possible. David and I used to be wedding photographers, and it took us almost eight years to grow our photography business Instagram account above 10K followers. I posted on that account almost daily. We did giveaways, held contests, and paid for plenty of Instagram ads. That account was about to hit 15K followers. That number felt big to me. I was proud of it.

Then one day, I went to check Instagram, and my account was gone. It said that Instagram had removed my account because of a violation. I didn’t understand. I hadn’t done anything wrong, and it didn’t make sense. It said that I could appeal the decision—which I did. Many, many times. But I never heard anything back. I was so upset.

After about a month of not hearing anything, David and I gave up hope. We decided to cut our losses and start a new Instagram account from scratch. We had been in the process of shifting our photography business toward more creative work. As hard as it was, we decided to view this as an opportunity to start over and rebrand ourselves completely.

In less than two years, we organically grew our following to over 50K followers. We have never run a single ad or spent a dollar on growth.

Is Your Bad Energy About Social Media Keeping You from Getting the Attention You Deserve? - Jada And David Parrish

What changed? I did. I shifted my mindset on how I thought about social media as a whole. I invested a lot of time and energy into studying Instagram reels and developing creative hooks for all my content. And that’s why I’m sharing this advice with you today—because I know firsthand how powerful the right strategy can be.

Let’s be honest—Instagram can feel like a gamble. You put in the work, post your content, and then… crickets. You start questioning whether your work is good enough or if people even like what you’re doing. I’ve been there, and I know how discouraging it can be. But here’s the thing: while you can’t control the ever-changing algorithm, you can control how you view and engage with social media. And that mindset shift can change everything.

Think of social media like a party. At a party, you naturally gravitate toward the people who have good energy, who make you feel welcome and engaged. The same goes for Instagram. If you show up with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to connect, people will want to engage with you. But if you approach it like a chore, just another task on your to-do list, that energy will come through in your posts, and it won’t resonate with your audience.

No one enjoys hanging out with someone who only talks about themselves, and the same is true online. Social media is not just a platform to advertise your products or services; it’s a space to build genuine connections. Share your story, your challenges, your wins—things that others can relate to. When your content comes from a place of authenticity and community-building, people will naturally gravitate toward it.

So, before you post your next piece of content, take a moment to check in with yourself. Are you excited to share? Are you bringing good energy to your online presence? If not, it might be time to rethink your approach. Remember, the energy you bring to social media will be reflected back at you. Show up with positivity, and you’ll start to see the kind of engagement you’ve been dreaming of.

The bottom line? Social media is here to stay, and if you want to succeed, you need to embrace it with the right mindset. Start viewing it as a tool for connection rather than a necessary evil. When you do, you’ll unlock its full potential—and finally start getting the attention you deserve.