Invitation, Not Promotion

Whenever I think about making a social media post, no matter how authentic, art-centered, or emotionally significant, I notice that my body tenses up. My stomach sucks inward, my adrenaline spikes, and a cunning mix of fear and shame wash over the nearly invisible parts of my brain.

On the other hand, when I think about hosting a livestream, gathering, or group sharing experience, my body opens outward. My heart feels a little warmer and the creative parts of my brain light up. Butterflies playfully tickle my stomach.

Traditional self-promotion (especially social media) requires us to plan, produce and perform in isolation. But hosting? That’s different. Hosting is relational.

Hosting says: Here’s my home, my voice. The doors are open if you’d like to join me.

Yes, fragmented conversations can happen in Instagram comments, but it’s nowhere near the type of connection I experience in a live room with others.

When we’re live, we’re inhabiting a shared space where the “audience” affects the art just as much as the art affects the audience. There’s a mutual exchange of tangible energy, and a special type of transformation happens in those moments. Connection. Reception, Recognition of each other as wild and vulnerable and beautiful human beings searching for a shared sense of meaning. I am not a performer serving bite-sized pastries to a feed of unknown consumers, but an imperfect being offering what I have right now, because that’s all there is.

And to clarify, I’m not completely writing off the merits and practical value of social media – I have discovered some wonderful things and made connections there – but for me, the act of “creating content” just doesn’t nourish me. It’s taken me years to figure out why, and I’m so glad I have.

So here’s my declaration: I’m no longer a performer, I’m a host.

I’m learning to open my doors even when it’s messy and I’m tired, because connection nourishes me just as much as I hope it nourishes my guests – my friends. May we all listening and discovering together.