Recently, I wrote about the myth of social media. My intention was to explain that, no, you don’t have to use social media for your business if you don’t want to!

(It’s worth a read if you haven’t been enjoying the experience of social media)

That article received an overwhelming response. Coaches emailed me with heartfelt thank you notes, saying things like, “I am so aligned with this. It’s really nice to hear from a business coach that it’s okay to not use social media for my business if it doesn’t feel resonant.”

This reaction doesn’t surprise me in the least. Coaches are the sort of people who crave deep connection and intimate relationships. While we all hope that social media will improve the connection we have with others, research shows that people are finding that, actually, they feel less connected and more isolated when they’re plugged in to social media.

I recently read an article citing a Pew Research study that found that 42% of U.S. Facebook users have taken a break from checking the platform for a period of several weeks or more, while around 26% say they have deleted the Facebook app from their SmartPhone completely.

This doesn’t surprise me, either, although the numbers are striking. With all the political unrest we are experiencing right now coupled with the fact that it is winter (the time of year when we instinctively want to hibernate), it makes sense that there is a general pull away from social media.

Often when we swing the pendulum too far one way, we swing it too far the other way in an effort to “right” it. I’ve heard from so many people this past month how disconnected and isolated they are feeling. In other words, hibernation is only restorative for so long. When you cross that threshold, it starts to deplete you.

The Antidote is Connection.

Find a way to engage with people in your world. I encourage you to get out and talk to people, go into your community, volunteer, visit the park, do something that reminds you of the joy of living and connects you to the beauty in your life. And, yes, it will be good for your business, too.

We’re all feeling this uprising of desire for real, authentic connection. It is the antidote. This is a great time to offer a workshop where people can authentically go deep together, or participate in a deep-dive weekend that someone else is offering.

Last month, one of my clients, Nadia, was asked to give a presentation as part of much bigger workshop. She created something super juicy, not just for her ideal clients, who are Women of Color Leaders, but for everyone in the room. So much connection and richness happened that she decided to stay for the entire day long workshop (not just her segment). She leaned into the connection that was happening among all the participants and everyone benefited tremendously. She reported feeling a deep sense of fulfillment after that experience. And, yes, it also led to a lot of women wanting to meet with her for a complimentary Clarity Session, and specifically, those Women of Color Leaders whom she loves to serve.

Remember that the world needs coaching right now. People hire coaches because they know, trust and like them, so putting yourself in situations where you can be in deep connection will not only make your heart sing, but also magnetize your divine ideal clients to you.

It’s a beautiful way to bring light into the world.

With appreciation,

Tara Butler Floch