Want to start sharing more about your personal and religious beliefs on social media but aren't sure how? Here are some ideas to get you started!
Sharing anything on social media these days can be a little nerve-wracking, especially if it is something personal and special to you. But sometimes those are the most important things to share, since they show your friends, family, and other followers who you are and what is important to you!
If you're spending a semester volunteering abroad with International Language Programs, then you're probably learning a lot and rediscovering what is most important to you. Perfect opportunity to share about your experiences and beliefs! Plus, you may end up sharing something that is exactly what someone else needed to read.
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A lot of our volunteers are members of the Church of Jesus Christ since ILP is based in Utah, but sharing your heart and your testimony on social media is important no matter what your beliefs are. Deciding exactly what to post is obviously up to you, but here are some easy ideas to help get you started! And since Instagram is something we're all still trying to figure out, here are some other tips you might find helpful.
Some social media users are all about captions, and others are all about the pictures. If you can manage to do both, then it's a win win for everyone! When creating a caption, you can write about an experience or thought you've had, or keep it really simple by just sharing a quote that has inspired you. Pinterest is a great place to find these, but you can also do an easy online search.
Listening to or watching General Conference while living abroad is another great place to get some wonderful insights and inspiration. Here are some tips for accessing it from wherever you are in the world!
Want to make your pictures a little more eye-catchy? Consider using a preset, which means that someone else has already put in all the work of fine tuning every photo tool so that your picture can look is absolutely best! Here are some of our favorite photo presets!
You know how Snapchat and Instagram had a 24-hour story feature and then Facebook finally jumped on the band wagon too? Well, they've made it really easy to share your beliefs on several different platforms in a way that is less overwhelming for creators and viewers than an actual post. You can even link your Instagram and Facebook stories so that if you share something on one platform, it will automatically share it on the other as well.
In fact, it's so easy to do that you could even make it a goal to share a spiritual thought once a week. It will only be up for 24 hours, you can see exactly who views it, and if someone doesn't want to see it they can just glide right on by. Plus, you won't be worried about how many "likes" your vulnerability and honesty will rack up and no one else has to know how many people interacted with your story and expressed appreciation for it (for those of us who sometimes stress about those kinds of things). Phew, the world of social media.
A lot of us don't really think about the words of a song while we're singing it, right? Well, when you're trying to sing a familiar song in a language you don't understand, all of the sudden the words stick out a lot more. It's a perfect opportunity to reflect on the testimonies of others that have been put to music.
Is there a phrase, sentence, or even a verse that stands out to you? Why not share it? Although some may skim over your post as soon as they recognize the words, it also provides an opportunity for others to pause and think about lyrics they may not usually pay much attention to.
Over the past few decades, there have been temples for the Church of Jesus Christ popping up all over the world! There are quite a lot in Europe now! And our volunteers in Costa Rica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic can easily visit temples as well. Snap a picture and share about your experience!
Don't forget about other religious buildings and sites as well. Our volunteers in Europe get to visit cathedrals and churches that have been around for hundreds of years! The faith and sacrifices that went into their construction and protection are inspiring. Plus, they're absolutely beautiful, and you can usually take pictures inside.
In Thailand there are multiple temples in every town and city, with monks who have dedicated themselves to living their beliefs every day! It's inspiring to see how much the Thai people respect the monks, and their sacred places of worship, while following the strict traditions of their ancestors. The unique architecture and vibrant colors of these temples is worth capturing in as many pictures as you can take!
Of all these tips, this one has to be the easiest. You know when you see something someone else has written and you think, "That's exactly how I feel, and they worded it perfectly!" Well, social media has made it easier than ever to just pass those good thoughts along.
To share a public post from Instagram onto your Insta story, just hit the little paper airplane/arrow icon at the bottom of the post. You can even add your own comments on your story to help other understand why it inspired you.
Looking for a volunteer opportunity that supports religious standards?
While ILP is not affiliated with any specific religious group, we do attract a lot of volunteers who are because of our focus on service and the code of conduct that all volunteers must agree to follow. If you are interested in talking with people who have volunteered with ILP themselves, click the button below: