I post at a moderate pace across a few channels, and I completely recognise the dynamic you describe - that subtle (or not so subtle) push to “perform well.” Metrics may not define my creative choices, but they’re always lurking in the background, nudging me to raise some invisible bar.
I don’t obsess over numbers, but I do often wonder if what I share was “good enough”, not for engagement, but in terms of impact. Did I overshare? Did that help anyone? Was that reflection too much, or not meaningful at all? That internal audit never really stops.
What does affect me more than the metrics is the notification feedback loop. A like, a comment, a message, those still give me a little dopamine spike. So while I don’t chase performance, I do feel the pull of engagement.
Loved reading this one, thank you for sharing ❤️ It felt warm and fuzzy, I could feel the sunlight gently touching through the windshield and falling onto the passenger side seat.
I had to make an edit to the comment because I couldn't read through the entire article in one go, so I came back for a second time. That really tells a lot about how short my attention span has gotten to and kinda echo to your title of "engaging" (but more on my part).
"I wonder how differently I would have experienced this trip if I had gone in with a different intention in mind, one where I had to create content to showcase myself." I've had very similar thoughts and had attempted vlogging (for welcoming Chipper home). I really struggled with a pre-conceived version of a trip or experience in mind in order to take videos. It felt extremely artificial and forced.
I find photography and still photos a much better approach for myself, and writing of course. It's about recognising connections, theme and the story when going through photos after a trip and then piece them together. Sometimes they are entirely different stories to the trip based on what I am thinking or romanticising during the moment, and that's okay, because I then get to experience it twice perhaps.
I then wonder if having a sort of "making a documentary" mindset (only to collect and capture clips on the way without any sort of pre-made story in mind) is better.
Sorry for the mumble. Really connected with your writing :)
Loved this read, CJ.
I post at a moderate pace across a few channels, and I completely recognise the dynamic you describe - that subtle (or not so subtle) push to “perform well.” Metrics may not define my creative choices, but they’re always lurking in the background, nudging me to raise some invisible bar.
I don’t obsess over numbers, but I do often wonder if what I share was “good enough”, not for engagement, but in terms of impact. Did I overshare? Did that help anyone? Was that reflection too much, or not meaningful at all? That internal audit never really stops.
What does affect me more than the metrics is the notification feedback loop. A like, a comment, a message, those still give me a little dopamine spike. So while I don’t chase performance, I do feel the pull of engagement.
Thanks for raising questions worth sitting with
Loved reading this one, thank you for sharing ❤️ It felt warm and fuzzy, I could feel the sunlight gently touching through the windshield and falling onto the passenger side seat.
I had to make an edit to the comment because I couldn't read through the entire article in one go, so I came back for a second time. That really tells a lot about how short my attention span has gotten to and kinda echo to your title of "engaging" (but more on my part).
"I wonder how differently I would have experienced this trip if I had gone in with a different intention in mind, one where I had to create content to showcase myself." I've had very similar thoughts and had attempted vlogging (for welcoming Chipper home). I really struggled with a pre-conceived version of a trip or experience in mind in order to take videos. It felt extremely artificial and forced.
I find photography and still photos a much better approach for myself, and writing of course. It's about recognising connections, theme and the story when going through photos after a trip and then piece them together. Sometimes they are entirely different stories to the trip based on what I am thinking or romanticising during the moment, and that's okay, because I then get to experience it twice perhaps.
I then wonder if having a sort of "making a documentary" mindset (only to collect and capture clips on the way without any sort of pre-made story in mind) is better.
Sorry for the mumble. Really connected with your writing :)