© Colonne / Pinterest

Like everyone on this planet, I have Pinterest on my phone, and dare I say, my whole life is planned on it. What my future house will look like, how I’m going to dress this week, even the hairstyles and nails I dream about every night. But the truth is, even though I pin every little image that seduces me, I don’t really know if this app gives me hope or keeps reminding me that my life DOES NOT look like this.

It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of “aspirational pinning.” You know the drill: you start by searching for a simple outfit idea for a date night, and before you know it, you’ve created a whole board for your “future mansion in the south of France,” complete with marble countertops, a garden bigger than your apartment, and a walk-in closet Carrie Bradshaw herself would envy. But here's the catch—does it make you feel good? Or is it the virtual equivalent of walking past a high-end boutique and staring longingly at the window displays? Pinterest is a playground for the dreamer in all of us, but when does dreaming become a source of dissatisfaction?

Is Pinterest a subtle reminder of all the things we don’t have?

The Fantasy of Perfection

Let’s be honest: Pinterest is a fantasyland. It’s the place where we can curate a version of our lives that’s impossibly perfect. The sleek, organized pantries, the minimalist homes with just the right balance of boho-chic and modern luxury, the effortlessly styled outfits that we imagine slipping into like a second skin. But while we pin away, does our real-life closet look like that? Or is it filled with impulse buys and half-forgotten trends from last season? And don’t even get me started on the hairstyles. I’m convinced there’s an unspoken rule that all Pinterest hairstyles require a personal stylist to achieve. Sure, I’ve pinned a million messy buns that look like they belong on a runway, but when I try to recreate them, I look more “I just rolled out of bed” than “model-off-duty.”

The Comparison Trap

One of the most dangerous aspects of Pinterest—and social media in general—is that it sets the stage for constant comparison. We see these perfect lives, these perfect homes, and these perfect people, and we start to wonder: Why doesn’t my life look like this? It’s easy to forget that what we’re seeing is curated, filtered, and far from reality. I’ll admit it: after a solid hour of scrolling through Pinterest, I’ve found myself feeling like my home is too small, my wardrobe too outdated, my lifestyle too basic. I compare myself to these Pinterest-perfect images, and suddenly, my cozy apartment doesn’t feel quite so cozy anymore.

Turning Inspiration into Action

But here’s the thing: Pinterest can be a source of inspiration—if we use it the right way. Instead of seeing it as a reminder of everything we don’t have, what if we used it to spark creativity in our everyday lives? Take those dreamy home décor ideas, for instance. Sure, maybe you’re not going to have a penthouse apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows anytime soon, but could you add a few key elements to your space that make it feel more “you”? Maybe that means buying a cute throw blanket or reorganizing your bookshelves to give your living room a new vibe. And as for fashion, instead of trying to replicate a Pinterest outfit piece-for-piece, why not use it as inspiration for reworking items you already have in your closet? The trick is to be realistic: your life isn’t a Pinterest board, but it doesn’t mean you can’t bring some of that style and creativity into your world.

Finding Joy in the Real, Not the Ideal

At the end of the day, we have to remember that life is messy, chaotic, and imperfect. While it’s fun to dream of the Pinterest version of ourselves—the one who has it all together with an immaculately organized closet and flawless winged eyeliner—there’s also beauty in the real. Life isn’t about living up to a curated fantasy. It’s about embracing the little moments that don’t make it onto a mood board: the spontaneous decision to wear the comfy sweater instead of the chic jacket, the cluttered but cozy kitchen where you actually cook, and the joy of a hairstyle that might not be “Pinterest-perfect” but is perfectly you.

So, let’s pin away, but let’s also remember to love the life we’re living—not just the one we’re dreaming about.

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