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Like you I sit here at my computer and use it as an important tool in my life. You may only be here for fun or finding information that answers questions or further your career, but you may also be using it to earn your living. How and when did life online take over life offline?

Every time you visit Facebook, other artist's websites, follow online conversations, see who got into that show you coveted, see where you aren't, does it lead to a negative mood or lower self esteem? Is someone else having more fun? getting into better shows? making more money?

The great thing about the Internet is that it is a wonderful resource that puts a lot of your informational needs at your fingertips, literally.

The bad thing is you can see what is going on with your peer group who seem to be having a more successful life. Someone out there IS getting into all the good shows (not me), someone out there has money in the bank to pay those booth fees whose deadlines are near (not me), someone out there has just landed a nice commission (not me), my neighbor nearly sold out at that last art fair (not me).

What do we do with this fear? We are always on the alert to make sure we're going to be okay -- but now there it is staring at us when we are online! Fear, jealousy, disappointment pouring from that glowing monitor (FoMo)*.

From marketing guru Seth Godin:

The lizard brain is on high alert to make sure that everything is okay. The lizard brain can't rest until it knows that everyone likes us, that no one is offended, that all graphs are ticking up and to the right and the future is assured. But of course, the future (and the present) isn't perfect. It can't be.

The combination of the two, the reverse schadenfreude of FOMO (the pain we may feel from others having good fortune) and the insatiable yet unreachable need for everything to be fine, conspire to make us distracted, unhappy and most of all, somewhere else.

What is your answer? Where is joy? How do you keep yourself going and away from the dissatisfaction with your life? Who is in charge here anyway?

*Fear of Missing out

Recently, an art fair friend of mine suffered unfounded accusations of forgery and/or copying from a person he has never met. These claims were posted on his business Facebook page. The language was a bit vile. An art fair show director looked at his page to see more of his work (beyond his jury photos) and saw this post. The director called my friend for clarification and was satisfied with the answers, yet it could easily have gone the other way. My friend removed the offensive post, but is understandably very upset.

We should all be aware of the damage we can do with social media and refrain ourselves. My friend's livelihood depends on his ability to get into good shows. This bad comment nearly ruined his chance for at least one show and maybe did eliminate him from others. Who knows?

Calling for self control!

Robin Ragsdale
www.evenbetterimages.com