17. What My Resistance to Instagram Was Trying to Tell Me

What if your resistance to showing up online is not something to push through, but something to listen to? In this episode of *The Favourite Self Podcast*, Carly shares a real-time reflection on why Instagram has not been feeling exciting or aligned lately, even as someone who has spent years helping others show up online. After a week unplugged at the family cottage and a difficult personal situation back home, she opens up about the tension between building a business through visibility and wanting to be fully present in real life. Carly explores the difference between fear that is asking you to grow and inner wisdom that is inviting you to shift. She shares how to get curious about resistance instead of judging it, why discernment matters in seasons of change, and how honesty can become the doorway back to connection. This episode is a reminder that showing up online should not come at the cost of your truth, and that sometimes your next level is not about doing more, but about doing it differently. **Key Takeaways:** • Resistance is not always fear. Sometimes it is a sign that something in the way you are showing up is ready to evolve • It is important to discern whether you are avoiding being seen or whether your current way of being seen no longer feels aligned • Taking space from social media can help you reconnect with your real life, your energy, and what actually matters most • The most meaningful connection online often comes from sharing what is honest and true, not what is perfectly strategic • You do not need to force yourself through misalignment. You can get curious, listen inward, and adjust how you show up • In a louder online world, your truth is what cuts through • Astrology can be a helpful reflective tool for understanding what themes you are being asked to look at more closely, especially around communication, visibility, and personal expression **Astrology Chart:** https://astro-charts.com/ **The Pattern App:** https://www.thepattern.com/ **Carly's Links** Website: carlyottaway.com / webofwords.ca Instagram: @‌itscarlyottaway / @‌webofwords\_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlyottaway Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@favouriteselfpodcast