From Social Awkwardness to Success

  Humans are extremely social beings. Just look at the explosion of social media and their success. But I find it so strange how ironic we are as beings.



  We idolize the successful because we want to be like them. All these rappers nowadays are publicizing their success and boasting, and we're buying. We desire success. We crave it.

  Both of these thoughts are extremely intertwined. To become successful you need to network, and to network you need to act as if you're already successful. Considering how important being social is to becoming successful, it's no wonder how Facebook is so popular.

  Funny thing is, a lot of this is rooted in curiosity. When we're on the subway, we're curious about others. We look at them, observe their actions, think about them. But as soon as they make eye contact, we act like we haven't seen them. Try holding eye contact with a stranger for more than 10 seconds. It's almost impossible! But why? Why the awkwardness if we're all such social beings and if it's so crucial to our success?

  Partly because it's in our nurture. How we've been raised. We're afraid of approaching each other, and when we are, we don't know how to respond. School never taught us how to approach a stranger and befriend them. So many of our chances are wasted. And when we do get the guts to approach someone, they're beyond hesitant. They're afraid. They think you want to harm them.

  Those who are successful at making the right moves with the right people make a name for themselves. Make a name for themselves. What does that mean? Of course, it means to attain fame, means that others know their name by heart. But what does "name" mean? I am Abteen. I am this entity. Now how do I fulfil my existence?

  Being social is both underrated and overhyped. We're social in all the wrong ways. We waste excruciatingly astounding amounts of time keeping up to date with our buddies' pics on Instagram and Twitter updates, and idolize those who are successful and fantasize about living in houses like theirs and driving those kind of cars. But how much of our time is spent going forward towards our fantasies instead of just fantasizing about them?

  It's surprising how far the mind wanders when not disturbed by all these distractions that are constantly around us. Put away your phone and just go for a half hour walk downtown at night. Observe others. Soon you'll start thinking.

  If we can perfect our abilities to approach those who can help us reach our dreams, social media would have an entire different meaning.