Even if your follower count drops, it will surely be okay. How to protect your heart on difficult nights.

One day, you happen to look at your account and notice that your follower count has decreased.

It's a shock, isn't it?

Did I write something wrong...?
Was I disliked?
Maybe I'm being boring...?

I imagine everyone has experienced that heart-wrenching feeling at least once.

Even I, to this day, never feel happy when I see my follower count go down.

For my monthly report articles, I have been recording my follower count at the start of each month for about three years.
If you look at the data, it generally increases in the long run.
Even so, there are times when it definitely drops depending on when I check, and I feel a little anxious, wondering, 'Why...?'

The other day, I read this article by Sakuran-san.

▶On days when this place feels a little far away, my sensitive self wanted to leave
(I apologize for using a text link, as I don't want to send out notifications every time the article is updated 🙏)

She worked so hard and finally surpassed 500 followers, but then she fell ill and had to stay in bed, during which time more than 10 followers left.

Thinking of that frustration made my own heart ache as well.

In the article, Sakuran-san writes the following:

This sentiment resonates deeply.

Anyone who continues to share content will feel that way at some point, won't they?

For an ordinary, unknown person to connect with 500 followers on note is truly a difficult feat.

I myself have gone through various trials and errors in my own way.

Since note followers can deactivate their accounts or become inactive, it's not like you're safe once you reach a milestone; you always need to keep looking for new followers to meet.

Considering everything, 500 followers is amazing. It's hard work.
That is precisely why it would be a waste to let your heart break over fluctuations in numbers and give up.

There must be many others who are struggling in the same way.

So, today, I will write about how to stay as calm as possible without being held captive by the number of followers, based on my own experience.

This is just my personal way of coping, so it's not absolute, but I hope it serves as a reference for someone.

A mindset for "protecting your heart even if your follower count drops."
In my case, it mainly consists of these three things.

・Squint your eyes
・Accept the limits of what you can control
・Build a foundation of "security" by knowing that certain people will stay

I will explain them one by one.

・Squint your eyes

Stop looking at your follower count!

…That said, I don't mean you should never look at it, but rather, decide on specific days to check.
Like the beginning or the end of the month.
If you look at it every day, you'll inevitably feel down when you notice it has decreased.

If you ask, "How do I avoid looking at it?" when you open your account's top page, you should try your best to squint.

In other words... try to blur your focus so that the details of the numbers don't enter your vision.
It's like applying a "blur" filter in your brain.

With practice, once you get used to it, you can avoid seeing it.

↓ [For those who find it difficult to squint]

Of course, it is a happy thing to be followed, so you should have time to check occasionally and warm your heart. However, I don't think it has to be every day.

Besides, even if it's painful now, as you gain more experience over a long period, the pain of ten people leaving will decrease.

・Accept the limits of what you can control

We only need to do our best within the range that we can control.

The number of followers is something you cannot control at all.
You can make an effort, but you cannot "absolutely" manipulate anyone.

Therefore,

"All I can do is write articles that I think are good at my own pace. I can put my heart into liking someone else's article or leaving a comment. Whether the other person follows me, doesn't follow me, or leaves is up to them. I did my best."

I keep this spirit.
But how much you can do depends on the situation at the time.

It's okay. Surely, you are already doing what you can, as far as your power reaches.
And as for anything beyond that, let's leave it to the other person.

・That person will stay

When someone unfollows or blocks you, your heart might race and you might feel anxious, right?
In times like those, instead of thinking about the person who unfollowed you, try thinking about someone who has been there for you all along.

"Even if I only had one follower left, that person would surely stay."

Surely, there is at least one such person.
Thinking that way makes me feel at ease.
As long as that person stays and enjoys my articles, that is enough.

After all, ten followers who leave because you took a short break, and one follower who waits for you even if you take a break.
For us as creators, these cannot possibly have the same value.

It is okay.

Even those who left might change their minds and come back eventually.

More than that, cherish the people who are here with you now.

I believe that building on that, bit by bit, results in an unshakable bond.

Yes, it is not about the numbers.
Followers with deep bonds are people with whom you can deepen your connection through the number of difficulties you have overcome together.

Even if there is someone who opened an account yesterday and reached 1,000 followers.

That person has 1,000 followers, but at this moment, they have zero "followers who will stay forever" or "followers who have supported them for N years."

And don't you think the latter is much more grateful and precious to us?
That is what I think.

How was that?
This is just a "way to protect my heart" that I keep in mind myself, but I hope there is some hint here that makes someone's heart feel a little lighter.

In my membership magazine, I occasionally write articles about how to interact with social media.

・Why are we obsessed with "Likes"? How to have a healthy relationship with note and your heart

・Are you dependent without realizing it? A self-check for the "unconscious shackles" lurking in note

・To you who cannot help but worry about notifications. A "comfortable way to use note" proposed from personal experience

You might find a hint that suits your heart.

I have made the free-to-read sections extensive, so I hope they are helpful.
May you find a place where your heart can feel a little more at peace.

▶ Click here for the series magazine.

Thank you for reading until the end.

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