My Social Media Odyssey: From Short Clips to a Digital Empire
Each platform amplified my journey: TikTok with mindfulness, Instagram through stories, Facebook in community, Twitter with insights, Pinterest for inspiration, and LinkedIn for career growth.
NOTE: This is the 3rd edition of the Community Resources series. If you missed other issues, click here.
Each post, story, and video I put out has one goal: to reach the ones who feel lost in this big, chaotic mess we call life.
I know what it’s like to carry that weight, to feel like you’re drifting in a sea of faces without a single one really seeing you.
I’m here to change that.
To create a space where you’re not just another face in the crowd, but someone who’s seen, heard, and understood.
My social media journey started as my own lifeline, a way to heal myself while hopefully sparking something in others, guiding them toward their own paths of recovery, growth, whatever it is they need.
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TikTok
When I first stepped into the chaotic, ever-shifting world of the digital landscape, TikTok quickly became my playground. A place where time seemed to bend, letting me share flashes of my life in mere seconds.
It felt like standing on a precipice, the wind howling around me, daring me to leap into the unknown. This platform—brimming with creativity and disorder—offered something unique. It was a chance to connect with people who needed it, in a way that was both simple and unexpectedly profound.
Each time I hit "record," I felt a jolt of anticipation.
My heart would race, knowing that the snippet I was about to share—whether a quick breath of mindfulness, a quote that struck me deeply, or a tiny reflection—might be just what someone needed.
Just 15 seconds.
That’s all it took to offer a pause, a brief escape from the chaos of their thoughts.
And then, I watched these small creations take on a life of their own. A quote, hastily scribbled in my journal, something intensely personal, could suddenly resonate with thousands.
The comments flowed in—gratitude, shared experiences, stories of their own struggles. Each one felt like a spark, igniting something bigger.
Instagram
I needed a bigger stage.
A place to spill my life in full color. So I wandered over to Instagram.
But it wasn’t just an app—it felt like throwing open a window, letting in the breeze of connection and the warm light of endless possibilities.
Scrolling through those vivid snapshots and crafting each post, I could almost feel life thrumming through my fingers, syncing with the beat of my heart.
Each photo was more than just a picture.
It was a slice of my story, raw and unfiltered.
The doubts that fogged my days. The moments of clarity that pulled me back into the light. They all found a home in those images. Fragments of my mind, emotions I couldn’t quite pin down with words.
And then there were the Stories.
Quick. Fleeting.
Blink-and-you’ll-miss-it glimpses that somehow captured the magic of the here and now. Filming bits of my day, spilling spontaneous thoughts, sharing the small joys and stumbles of daily life—those Stories became something more.
Proof.
Of living in the moment.
Of embracing every twist.
Of finding beauty in the fleeting.
In those moments—when the light hit just right or the words flowed without a hitch—I felt alive.
Truly alive.
In tune with myself and everyone on the other side of the screen.
Instagram wasn’t just a platform; it was a living, breathing chronicle of my growth. A place to mark every peak and valley of my journey. Reminding me that every second, every emotion, deserved its own chapter in the story I was writing.
Facebook
Facebook became my refuge. A digital hearth.
The warmth of community healing radiated from every post, every comment.
It wasn’t just another platform—it was a gathering place, where connection wasn’t just possible, it was inevitable. Each login felt like stepping into a sacred space, a sanctuary where support and empathy flowed freely, weaving through the stories of everyone who showed up.
I started small.
Just some uplifting quotes, words that reached into those deep, unspoken corners of our shared experience. Every like, every share sent ripples out into the ether. I could almost feel those words stretching out, touching hearts I couldn’t see but knew were there.
The comments, the conversations—they were sparks.
Tiny but powerful.
They ignited something real—a sense of belonging, of being truly seen.
And then came the live meditations.
Preparing for each session brought that familiar mix of nerves and excitement. Sitting in front of my camera, I’d breathe deep, centering myself, ready to open that virtual door to anyone who needed it.
Once the session began, time seemed to slow down.
The distance between us…
Gone.
The collective calm settled in, like a soft blanket of peace wrapping around everyone. Those quiet moments, shared breaths, just being together in that space—it was pure magic.
Facebook became more than a hub.
It was alive.
Breathing.
Pulsing with the energy of deep discussions and group growth.
I watched people open up, laying bare their struggles, their victories, their fears, and their hopes. We weren’t just talking. We were creating something beautiful—a collective tale of human experience.
Each comment a story, a journey.
And in the middle of it all, I found my own healing, too. Each interaction, every shared moment, was a reminder.
We’re never really alone on this path.
We walk it together. Hand in hand. Heart to heart.
Twitter 𝕏
On 𝕏—what used to be Twitter—I uncovered the sheer force of concise wisdom.
It felt like stepping onto a stage where every single word had to pull its weight, where brevity was a skill that could carry the weight of a thousand thoughts.
Just 280 characters. That’s all I had.
But it was enough to distill my reflections, to capture the core of an idea with sharp clarity. Each word had to hold its own, yet also contribute to something larger.
Each time I typed out a tweet, there was a hum of excitement.
A flicker of possibility.
The idea that these few words, in such a small space, might ripple out into the world, touching minds and hearts I’d never know. It was almost sacred, realizing that these characters weren’t just pixels—they were sparks.
Tiny bursts of inspiration, bits of motivation, flickers of hope sent out into the digital world to ignite something in someone, somewhere.
Hitting "send" wasn’t just a click.
It was a pause.
A moment to wonder where those words might land.
Would they brighten someone’s day? Shift their perspective? Even just a little?
It felt like I was tapping into a shared current, taking the pulse of our collective human experience. Each tweet, brief as it was, became a thread connecting us, a reminder that we’re all in this together.
And then, as the replies, retweets, and likes started rolling in, it struck me again and again—we’re all navigating this journey together. Each interaction was a nod, an acknowledgment that we’re all searching, learning, growing.
Even in the fast-paced swirl of digital noise, there’s space for depth.
For connection.
For wisdom shared in just a handful of words.
𝕏 showed me that it’s not about the quantity of words but their impact. And in that, I found a power that deeply resonated with my purpose.
Pinterest
A seemingly endless maze of images, ideas, and inspiration.
It quickly became my personal haven—a visual sanctuary where creativity and self-discovery thrived. Like wandering through a vast library, each board was a carefully curated anthology, every pin a page in a book that never stopped growing. I found myself drawn deeper into this space, where gathering and organizing felt less like a task and more like meditation, a way to anchor myself amidst life's chaos.
I started with boards dedicated to affirmations.
Each pin was a tiny piece of positivity, a visual mantra reminding me—and anyone else scrolling—of the power of words to shape our thoughts and lives.
I’d sift through an ocean of images, hunting for those that spoke to something deeper, that captured the essence of what I wanted to share. These boards transformed from mere collections into living, breathing entities, evolving with each new addition, each pin a milestone on my path to self-growth.
Then came the self-care routines.
I meticulously gathered ideas like collecting rare gems—rituals of kindness, gentle nudges to pause, breathe, and take a moment for oneself. Each pin was chosen with intent, like selecting the perfect stones to pave a path inward, toward peace and restoration.
As I pinned each image, I could almost feel the calm washing over me, a quiet reassurance that these practices weren’t indulgences, but essentials for a balanced, fulfilled life.
And let’s not forget the personal development resources.
Boards overflowing with books, articles, and guides promising growth and transformation. It was like assembling a toolkit for the soul, every resource a key to unlocking a different part of the self.
As I added to these boards, I felt purpose. They weren’t just for me; they were for anyone searching to enrich their lives, to dig deeper into their personal journey.
LinkedIn
It wasn’t just another platform—it was a stage.
A place where personal growth and professional ambition collided, creating a space where the shiny corporate facade could crack open, revealing the deeper, messier layers of human experience.
This platform felt different.
The words I chose carried a different weight, a certain gravity. Each post wasn’t just about starting a conversation; it was about triggering a shift. A shift in how we think about success, leadership, and what it really means to thrive in a workplace that often demands more than it gives.
I kicked things off with articles on emotional intelligence, unpacking the tangled web of emotions we navigate—not just our own, but those of colleagues, clients, and bosses. Writing these posts, I imagined them as small stones tossed into a vast pond, each ripple reaching out to touch someone who might be drowning in the unspoken, unseen challenges of corporate life. I wanted to reach those who felt torn between their personal and professional selves, to show them that these worlds aren’t opposites—they’re deeply, beautifully intertwined.
Then came the posts on leadership empathy.
Writing them felt like cracking open the windows of a stuffy boardroom, letting in fresh air and new ways of thinking. I pictured leaders scrolling through their feeds, stopping at my post, feeling that nudge—that reminder.
Leadership isn’t just about numbers and bottom lines.
It’s about people.
It’s about caring for the ones who drive those results.
Each post was a subtle prod, urging leaders to lead with heart, to understand that real authority isn’t about power—it’s about connection, compassion, and seeing the human being behind the job title.
Mental well-being at work became another central theme.
It wasn’t just another topic; it was urgent. I thought of the countless professionals pushing themselves to the edge, mistaking burnout for success, viewing vulnerability as a flaw.
I wanted my words to be a lifeline.
A gentle reminder that mental health isn’t negotiable—it’s non-negotiable. I pictured someone, exhausted after a brutal day, reading my post and feeling a shift.
Maybe just a small one.
But enough to consider that it’s okay to pause.
To breathe. To choose well-being over the endless grind.
For me, LinkedIn became more than a networking site.
It was a bridge.
A bridge connecting personal introspection with career advancement, where the lessons learned in self-awareness and emotional insight didn’t just stay in the realm of the personal—they spilled over, enriching careers, creating not just successful professionals, but fulfilled human beings.
It was where I could share these insights with a community of driven individuals, all on their own quests to align who they are with what they do, seeking meaning and purpose in a world that often forgets to look beyond the resume.
YouTube
YouTube, with its endless reach and limitless possibilities, became my gateway to go deep—deeper than I’d ever gone before.
Not just a platform. More like an ocean.
Vast, teeming with potential, a place where I could dive into the topics that truly mattered. Sitting in front of the camera, the red record button glowing like a signal flare, I felt that familiar surge of anticipation.
Here, I could really connect.
Here, I could peel back layers, explore ideas thoroughly, and engage with a global audience on a level that other platforms just couldn’t match.
Each video was more than just content.
It was a conversation.
Intimate.
Personal.
A direct line to the hearts and minds of viewers scattered across the world.
I’d break down complex ideas, making them simple, relatable. I imagined my audience—people I’d never met but felt a bond with—nodding along, maybe pausing to jot down a thought, or cracking a smile when something hit home. It wasn’t just about sharing knowledge; it was about sparking understanding, creating a dialogue that lingered beyond the screen.
Guided meditations became another pillar of my YouTube experience.
Crafting each session, I could almost feel the collective sighs of those who’d follow along, their stresses unraveling with each exhale. I pictured quiet rooms, my voice echoing softly, the glow of screens lighting peaceful faces, eyes closed, surrendering to the moment.
These weren’t just relaxation exercises—they were bridges. Connecting us all in a shared experience, no matter the distance, drawing us into a few minutes of calm and clarity.
YouTube became more than a channel.
It was a space for collective growth and understanding.
A gathering place where ideas could take root and bloom, where people from all walks of life came together to learn, heal, and evolve.
Watching the comments roll in, the likes add up, the views climb, I felt something deeper than satisfaction.
This wasn’t just about making videos; it was a mission.
A calling to nurture a global community, united by a shared longing to live more fully, more mindfully, more connected—to themselves and to each other.
Threads
Threads emerged, not just another digital space, but a hidden gem.
A quiet corner tucked away from the chaos of the online world, where the noise fades and the connection deepens. It wasn’t just a platform; it was a sanctuary. A place for those moments that slip through the cracks elsewhere, those intimate thoughts that don’t always fit in the broad strokes of social media.
As I explored it, there was a spark of excitement.
This was where I could truly reach those who had been with me on this journey, who had become more than followers—kindred spirits.
Crafting my first post on Threads felt like settling into a conversation with an old friend. Someone who already knew the headlines but wanted the story behind them.
No need for perfection here.
No pressure to shine. Just raw, real talk.
Each thread I wove was a piece of my heart, stitched together to reveal more than just the polished highlights. I shared the doubts, the small wins, the quiet moments that have shaped me.
Threads gave me space to dig deeper, to peel back the layers and expose the truths that often stay hidden. I could talk about growth, healing, and the lessons learned along the way. Vulnerability wasn’t a buzzword; it was the currency. Trust wasn’t just a concept; it was the bond that grew stronger with every post, every exchange.
The platform’s focus on close connections made it feel like an oasis in the vast desert of digital life. A place to breathe. To just be.
The interactions on Threads weren’t surface-level; they were genuine, deep, real.
It was as if the usual barriers that separate us online had dissolved, leaving us open, exposed, but in the best way—ready to truly see and be seen.
Every time I posted, I pictured my closest followers reading, not just scrolling.
Pausing.
Reflecting.
Maybe even seeing a piece of their own journey in mine.
That’s where the magic of Threads lies.
It’s a place where real conversations happen, where digital distance shrinks, and what’s left is a sense of togetherness.
A shared humanity.
Threads wasn’t just another tool in my digital arsenal; it was a haven. A place where connections could deepen, where our lives could intertwine in ways that mattered.
Journey to Dreams Realized
Words have always been my refuge.
My escape when the world gets too chaotic, too loud, too much.
They’re my fuel, the spark that keeps my spirit alive, even when everything feels dark. From losing myself in the rich stories of legendary authors as a kid, to scrolling through the rapid-fire thoughts and ideas on social media—each story has shaped me, left its mark.
These experiences didn’t just fill my mind; they lit a fire inside me—a burning drive to become a full-time content creator. I want to carve out a space where my words, my ideas, my voice, can resonate and find a home with others.
Social media is a wild, sprawling universe.
A place where creativity and chaos collide.
Endless possibilities, but also endless noise.
Yet, in this digital storm, I feel a sense of purpose, a steady, clear determination.
I’m not wandering aimlessly; I’m here to make my mark.
Every post, every video, every story—it’s all part of a bigger picture. A climb toward a dream that’s both exhilarating and daunting. Each piece of content is another step closer to turning this passion into something real—a full-time gig where I get to wake up every day and do what I love.
But here’s the thing.
It’s not just about me.
Beyond the screens, beyond the likes and shares, it’s about building something that matters. Something that lasts. I want my voice to resonate, to inspire, to make people think, feel, act.
A voice that cuts through the noise and hits home.
But I know I’m not doing this alone.
This journey is ours.
A partnership.
A back-and-forth between creator and community, between dreamer and believers.
Each piece of content I put out is only half the story. The other half—that’s you.
Your engagement.
Your feedback. Your support.
When you subscribe, follow, engage—you’re doing more than just consuming content.
You’re fueling this journey.
You’re the momentum that keeps me climbing, even when it gets tough. Your support is the spark that turns this dream into a living, breathing reality.
Together, we’re building something powerful.
Something that stands out in the vast, ever-changing landscape of social media.
It’s not just about becoming a recognized voice—it’s about creating a space where our voices unite to make an impact, to inspire change, to build a community fueled by creativity, connection, and shared dreams.
Every Gesture Amplifies the Dream
If committing to a premium subscription isn’t in the cards right now, hear me out—I want you to really hear this: Your engagement, your feedback, and just spreading the word is…
Priceless.
Seriously, don’t underestimate the impact of small actions.
Every like, every share, every time you mention my work—it matters.
A lot more than you might think.
Each time you engage with my content, you’re not just a number on a screen. You’re a heartbeat in this growing community.
Your comments. Your feedback. They’re conversations.
Dialogues that spark my creativity and shape the direction of this journey.
It’s a reminder that I’m not out here alone, shouting into the void. There are people—real people—who care, who are as invested in this vision as I am.
And when you share my work, whether it’s telling a friend or posting about it on your own feed, it’s like you’re cracking open a door, letting more people step into this space we’re building together.
It’s a ripple effect, starting with you and spreading outward, pulling more like-minded souls into our circle. Each time you recommend my work, it’s not just a casual mention.
It’s a thread, binding this community closer, making it stronger.
Join the Adventure
To all who walk this path with me and those yet to join: Let's traverse this landscape of growth and healing together. Engage, reflect, and evolve with me as we chart a course towards a more mindful and enriched life.
Remember, you're not alone on this journey, and through my social platforms, I hope to stand by your side.
Let's navigate this life together.
—Ryan Puusaari
P.S. Your time and engagement with this edition mean a lot. Every reader adds value to our journey together. Thank you for being here!
P.P.S. "Social media isn’t just about likes and shares; it’s about finding kindred spirits in the digital crowd, creating connections that turn strangers into a community."
Stepping into yourself—bold move. Props to you for that.
But don’t kid yourself; this isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s a relentless trek inward, and trust me, it never really stops, just shifts and twists with time.
And to give you a hand, here’s something I’m stoked about: the 365-Day Shadow Work Series. Think of it as your deep dive into self—no fluff, just real, raw reflection.
This series doesn’t play around.
It throws you into the thick of it, with pointed questions that push you through the muck of sadness, self-doubt, and grudges.
Every page, crafted to steer you, challenge you, and yeah, maybe even break you open a little. It’s not just a journal—it’s your new ritual in self-discovery.
Before You Go
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