Unseen Reflections

My World: My life is pretty straightforward. I work five days a week and spend my weekends with family and friends.

The World I Want to Be In: Recently, I’ve found myself captivated by the world of Instagram. It started innocently enough—watching short videos featuring friends, references from The Big Bang Theory, and Bollywood clips. But then I stumbled into the realm of influencers and bloggers, and things took a turn. Suddenly, my feed was filled with flawless hair, impeccable makeup, and designer outfits—Chanel, YSL, Dior. I didn’t realize it at first, but I began to crave that lifestyle. I wanted to look perfect every time I stepped out; I wouldn’t leave the house without concealer. This was a big shift for me, as I had spent my undergrad and grad years embracing my bare face, indifferent to brands or trends. Now, I felt ashamed carrying my Charles and Keith bag—an investment for many, yet I longed for something “better.”

I found myself spending hours on Instagram, scrolling through lavish wedding celebrations. I was especially struck by one recent wedding featuring ten functions, where everyone looked stunning in designer attire. It made me feel insecure, more than I ever had in my teenage years. I thought to myself, “My wedding could never look like this; I can’t afford those clothes or extravagant events.” Those thoughts haunted me, making me question my own worth.

Eventually, I realized the trap I was falling into—fixating on all the wrong things. Instagram can be toxic in ways I can’t fully describe. To anyone feeling the weight of that pressure, I urge you to take a step back. Instagram represents only a small fraction of reality. In Pakistan, it accounts for just 3.1% of the population. What about the other 97%? They are the cleaners, the house help, the hardworking individuals who travel by bus to make ends meet. They are the women facing domestic violence, the people you encounter daily at local shops.

I often compare myself to influencers with tens of thousands of likes, forgetting the vast majority of people living everyday lives. I overlook the waiters at the mall or the Careem drivers who make our lives easier. I tend to focus only on the glamour and ignore the realities that surround me.

Why don’t I acknowledge the countless children out of school or the pervasive issues of poverty?

Today, I promise myself to stop comparing my life to that of Instagram influencers. Their lives may appear perfect, but they could be as artificial as the filters they use. I won’t resent someone who has the resources to host lavish weddings and wear exquisite clothing. I can’t and won’t let that pressure dictate my self-worth.