March has always felt like a turning point.

Winter begins to loosen its grip. Spring approaches quietly. Lent invites us to pause, reflect, and release what no longer serves us. Easter reminds us that renewal is possible—but not without intention.

And yet, in the middle of all this renewal, anxiety and depression feel louder than ever.

Recently, my husband shared something that stopped me in my tracks.

He works as a store manager, and one day customer after customer came in asking for the same exact item. It was so consistent he said it felt like people were texting each other or seeing something online telling them exactly where to buy it. As the day went on, the item sold out. Instead of leaving, people grabbed cheaper alternatives—almost desperately.

He described it like this: “It was like they just had to have it.”

At one point, a group of girls walked in wearing cheerleading uniforms, all asking for the same thing.

Curious, he finally asked a mom what the big craze was.

Her response?
“It helps with anxiety.”

And that’s when it clicked for me.

Is It Really Anxiety… or the Fear of Missing Out?

I said to him, “That’s exactly why they’re anxious.”

Children and teenagers are seeing these items go viral on social media. They’re watching everyone else have it. They’re terrified of being the kid who doesn’t. The anxiety isn’t always coming from within—it’s coming from comparison.

The fear of:

• Not fitting in
• Not being cool
• Not looking like you can afford the latest trend
• Being different in a world that rewards sameness

And I couldn’t help but ask:
What were they doing with their anxiety before this trend existed?

We’ve created a culture where anxiety is constantly triggered by what we see, what we don’t have, and who we think we should be.

Social Media, Trends, and the Loss of Identity

Social media has a way of telling us:

• What’s acceptable
• What’s desirable
• What’s “in”
• What’s worth chasing

And when you’re constantly trying to keep up—new trends, aesthetics, styles, lifestyles—you eventually lose yourself.

That loss of identity is exhausting.
And exhaustion breeds anxiety.
Anxiety left unchecked often turns into depression.

As a parent, I want my children to know this:
You don’t need to walk around looking like everyone else.
You don’t need what everyone else has.
You don’t need to chase trends to be worthy.

Being easily influenced will keep you in a constant spiral—always reaching, never settled, disconnected from who you truly are.

March, Lent, and the Invitation to Renew

March is not just about spring cleaning our homes—it’s about clearing our minds and hearts too.

Lent calls us to fast—not just from food, but from distractions, excess, and false identities. Easter reminds us that renewal comes after surrender.

What if this season we chose to:

• Consume less content
• Compare less
• Spend less
• Chase less

And instead:

• Sit with ourselves
• Learn our own style
• Discover what actually brings us peace
• Reconnect with who we were before social media told us who to be

A Gentle Reminder

Comparison will always steal your joy.
Trends will always change.
Social media will always move the goalpost.

But knowing yourself?
That’s grounding.
That’s stabilizing.
That’s freedom.

Anxiety doesn’t always need a product—it often needs presence, boundaries, and identity.

This March, refresh your spirit.
Renew your mind.
Reconnect with yourself.

You were never meant to become a copy of what’s trending.
You were meant to be rooted.

Journal Prompts for Reflection

• Where in my life am I comparing instead of connecting?
• What trends or pressures am I chasing that don’t align with who I am?
• Who was I before social media told me who to be?
• What would peace look like if I consumed less?

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.