Want to be an Influencer? Strengthen Your Nervous System
This week, Sam Cutler, aka @TheFitFatale, is on the Blush Podcast. Sam is the founder of MINDFULL, an on-demand video based platform for meal plans, recipes & health coaching. She hosts a social based wellness community of over 285k women around the world, sharing her knowledge as a fitness trainer, health coach, and most recently through her certificate in Nutrition Meal Planning from Harvard Medical School.
If you don’t know Sam from the incredible platform she has built, you may recognize her from the social media scrutiny & backlash she faced 6 months ago when she shared a TikTok video of what she ate on her wedding day. Comments starting whirling in about how she had an “eating disorder themed wedding” and how she was an “almond bride.” A major publication wrote an article about it, misstating what she ate that day— as the bride— as what they served that day— to guests.
After the first article, the rest of the media outlets ran with the story.
This week, Sam opens up for the first time about what effect this whole incident had on her. The trust issues she developed, the anxiety she had, and the lingering trauma she still deals with.
We live in a culture that is so quick & eager to be outraged. Being a content creator, you are the first line of defense against this outrage. As public-facing content creators, individuals in the online world often bear the weight of public scrutiny, criticism, and expectations. Behind the polished images and witty captions lies a world that requires a tremendously strong nervous system.
The All-Seeing Eye of Social Media
Public-facing content creators willingly put themselves in the public eye, sharing their lives, stories, talents, and opinions with the world. The constant exposure to social media scrutiny and feedback is a double-edged sword. While it provides a platform for self-expression, connection, and influence, it also opens the door to criticism, judgment, and even trolling. Every post, video, or update becomes subject to public evaluation.
The Importance of a Strong Nervous System
To navigate this digital realm, content creators must develop a tremendously strong nervous system. Here are some key traits that contribute to their resilience:
Emotional Resilience: Content creators learn to manage and compartmentalize their emotions, separating their online presence from their personal life.
Adaptability: The online landscape is ever-evolving. Creators must adapt to changes, trends, and algorithms, which demand flexibility and resourcefulness.
Self-Compassion: It's essential to practice self-compassion and not let criticism or negative feedback erode one's self-worth.
Support System: Content creators often rely on a strong support system, both online and offline, to provide encouragement and understanding.
Boundaries: Establishing clear boundaries between personal and public life helps preserve mental and emotional well-being.
Behind the Scenes of Success
Public-facing content creators are more than just social media stars; they're skilled navigators of a digital landscape filled with scrutiny and pressure. While they may face the challenges of the online world, their strength and resilience enable them to turn their passion into success. It's important to recognize and appreciate the tremendous effort, creativity, and emotional intelligence required to thrive in the world of social media.
Luckily, Sam had the foundations of a strong nervous system. Her whole life is dedicated to the foundations of a strong nervous system— she has built healthy habits that support her mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. That foundation is what helps her run multiple businesses, consistently share quality content with her followers, helped hundreds of thousands of women throughout the world, and navigate the storm of social media scrutiny.
If you, too, want to be an influencer, a content creator, or otherwise have a public-facing career; you need to strengthen your nervous system.
Sam’s story is unbelievably inspiring and motivational. Check out the full episode everywhere you listen to podcasts (iTunes/apple here) and you can WATCH the whole episode on Spotify (available here)!
