Overcoming Fear in Social Media

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Neon’s Newsletter: Overcoming Fear in Social Media

Hello Everyone,

Last week, my finger hovered over the “Request to Speak” button in an X Space—heart racing, mind racing with doubts like “What if I sound out of touch?” or “What if no one cares?” In the end, I backed out, letting fear win again. It’s a pattern I’ve noticed more lately on X, where I know I should be doing so much more: posting videos, engaging in threads, building real connections. But that crippling stage fright holds me back, just as it has through my life’s big shifts—from growing up in Arizona to stints in Hollywood and a decade in Osaka. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. In this edition, I dive into how fear impacts our art and online world, drawing from my AI experiments to offer practical ways forward. It’s not a bold manifesto, just honest notes from someone in the trenches.

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Understanding Fear

Fear can be a quiet influence that stops us from doing things we know we should. For me, it shows in not using video or joining Spaces on X, or being more active in conversations. I have pretty crippling stage fright which has been there throughout my life, linked to worries about judgment. This makes my social media seem less interesting than it could be.

This issue is common. In my AI work with tools like Grok Imagine, I see something similar: starting a prompt with good intentions, but changing it too much out of doubt, like how we limit our online sharing. Recognizing this is the first step to moving past it.

Steps to Move Forward

I did research and found some steps to move forward and while I haven’t put them into practice, I will try right along with you. To deal with these concerns, it helps to use simple, practical methods. Here are some expanded steps, with examples tied to my own world of AI art—let’s see if they work for us:

1.  Small Starts: Try short recordings first. Make a 20-second audio about one idea, like an AI image you made. Listen to it to get used to your voice. Then, add it to a post on X. This helps build comfort slowly. For example, I could start by voicing over a simple Grok Imagine prompt, like turning my old lemon tree into a neon scene, and attach it to a tweet—low stakes, but it gets the words out.

2.  Practice Alone: Test things in private. For video, record yourself talking about something familiar, like a plant you have. Use basic tools to edit it. For Spaces, listen to others first, then add a short comment. This prepares you without pressure. In my case, I’d rehearse explaining an Osaka-inspired cultural prompt (e.g., “Dotonbori lights in fluorescent chaos”) in front of my phone, editing out stumbles with free apps like CapCut, before ever going live.

3.  Set Clear Goals: Plan specific actions, like replying to three posts on X this week or trying a short Space next month. Write them down. Tell one person you trust to check on your progress. This makes it easier to follow through. Think of it like scheduling AI experiments: I’d jot down “Reply to 3 AI art threads by Friday” in my notes app and loop in a fellow creator for accountability, turning vague intentions into trackable wins.

4.  Address Worries: List your concerns, such as being seen as out of touch, and note positive facts, like your followers or past successes. Start with small interactions on X each day. Over time, good responses help reduce the fear. For me, I’d counter “What if they judge my age/experience?” with reminders of my 12K+ followers and that Elon interaction, then force a daily reply to build evidence that most feedback is positive.

5.  Learn from Others: Look at how other creators began, even if their early work was not perfect. See what they did to improve. Use simple video tools to make your content better. Research folks like AI artists on X who’ve shared their “first awkward video”—it shows everyone starts somewhere, and I’d apply their tips, like using Canva for quick edits, to my own neon-themed clips.

6.  Build Confidence: Before trying something, take a few deep breaths or write why it matters. See experiences as a benefit: they add value. If needed, read books on handling fear or use apps for support. I’d journal “This matters because sharing my Osaka stories through AI could connect with others,” then use apps like Calm for breathing exercises before hitting record.

These steps are straightforward and can fit into daily life. I believe they would help turn AI ideas into shared work. What’s your take? Reply with your biggest fear or which step you’ll try first. (Quick poll idea: If you’re on Beehiiv, vote here: “Biggest hurdle? A) Judgment, B) Tech, C) Time, D) Other.”)

AI Prompts to Try

Here are three prompts for tools like Grok Imagine. They can help turn thoughts into images—try them as a low-pressure way to experiment with creation:

•  “A magical cinematic ink illustration, showing bright contrasts of a lemon tree with moss of green hues at the base, neon colors in blue and light tones.”

•  “An adult manga large neon illuminated square dot stippling, a beautiful person outlined against a soft neon light background and futuristic city showing calm determination—clear lines with simple contrast, like modern art..”

•  “A vast technical draft of a stunning neon illuminated city view like Osaka fading into the night straight shapes, elegant style, realism”

Try these and share if you like, by email or on X (@Neon_on_X).

Final Thoughts

Dealing with fear takes time, but it leads to better results. As I plan to try more, like videos on AI topics, I see it as part of growth.

Thank you for reading.

Best,

Neon