Sharing vs Showing
- Prem Shah
- Jul 11, 2021
- 4 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
Note: This one's longer than usual. If you're short on time, maybe save it for later.
Also — I'm still unsure how true all of this is, and how well I’ve been able to explain it. It’s an abstract subject, and everyone may have their own definitions. But here, I'm talking about the most general version I understand.
It took me over three weeks to post this.
After writing my last blog on photography, I started wondering:
Why do I — and people around me — share things on social media?
Is it sharing or showing off?
How does one differentiates?
I’ve spent some time writing, thinking, and reading about it. I’m still figuring it out, but here’s what I’ve understood so far.
I’ve divided this blog into four parts:
Definitions and Types
Here’s what I found on Google:
Sharing: having a portion of something with others.
Showing: allowing something to be seen or perceived; displaying.
I tried dividing them into two types:
Tangible (physical things)
Intangible (non-physical things)
For tangible things, it's pretty straightforward.
Food, books, cars, houses — things you can touch.
If I am trying to display my car, I’m showing it.
If I let someone drive it, I’m sharing it.
It’s what I learned as a child when my mom told me to “share my toys.”
But with intangible things, it gets fuzzy.
A digital photo
A story
An idea
A life experience
Talent
Emotion
Knowledge
Data
A value I live by
Here, the line between showing and sharing isn’t so clear.
Many of these can be both — depending on something important.
The Key Difference
So how do I know if I’m sharing a photo — or showing it off? If I tell someone my opinion or story, is it sharing or showing?
Here’s the most important thing I’ve realized: It depends on my intention.
The why behind it.
Why am I posting this picture?
Why am I writing this caption?
Why do I want to tell this story or share this thought?
The tricky part is being honest with myself.“I just felt like it” is often a surface-level answer. If I dig deeper, I’ll usually find a more honest one.
If my intention is to add value to someone’s life — it’s sharing. If it’s mainly to get something back — like likes, validation, approval — it’s showing.
It can be anything:
To make someone laugh
To say “you’re not alone”
To inspire, help, comfort
To give knowledge or peace
“The act of sharing is one of generosity — you’re putting something out there because you think it might be helpful or entertaining to someone on the other side.” — Austin Kleon
And here’s the interesting part:
The same act can be sharing or showing — and only I know which one it is.
It all depends on context and honesty.
Sometimes, it feels like I’m doing it for both — to help and to get attention. But deep down, there’s usually one real driver.
The rest is just me justifying it.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Instant validation.
Compliments give a dopamine hit.
In low moments, a little attention can feel like a boost.
Sometimes, it even makes me feel “better” than others — which feels good in a competitive world.
Cons:
My happiness starts depending on others' reactions.
If I take compliments personally, I’ll probably take criticism personally too.
I hand over the key to my self-worth to someone else.
Over time, it eats away at real confidence.
Like steroids for self-esteem — feels good now, but harms me in the long run.
Can turn into a habit, or even an addiction — where I start doing things for validation, not because I really want to.
Cons:
Takes time, effort, sometimes even money.
I may give away something I could’ve kept — like food, time, or attention.
There’s no guarantee of response or appreciation.
It doesn’t always “perform” well — if I post a thoughtful blog, maybe only 5 people might read it. If I post a good picture, I’ll get 100 likes.
Pros:
Deep satisfaction.
A feeling of contribution.
It’s like planting a seed — may not grow immediately, but has long-term value. if I keep sharing, eventually something will take off and compensate for everything else — but I can’t do it with that hope in mind.
When I post this blog, I feel good already — even before anyone reads it.
Done with honest intention, it increases joy, self-love, humility, and growth.
My Learnings and Takeaways
Showing off is about getting.
Sharing is about giving.
Showing off looks like pleasure. Sharing feels like love.
But still — it’s hard to share.
Here’s why I think that is:
One, sharing often looks like a “loss.” Especially with intangible things — it's hard to see what we’re gaining.
Two, showing off gives quick hits. Like sugar or a drug.Sharing is delayed gratification — takes more effort, but it’s the real thing.
Three, it takes effort to be selfless. Being selfish is easier, and sometimes even necessary for survival. But showing off isn’t a need — it’s a want.
I remember this beautiful deleted scene from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani — it explained sharing in such a simple, touching way.
Final thought:
Showing off is like eating sugar.
Once in a while? Sure. Cheat days are fine.
But too much of it? Eventually, I’ll have to cut down for my own good.
Even tiny things — the clothes I wear, a status update, a new WhatsApp DP — can be forms of showing off if I don’t stay conscious of my intentions.
I don’t need to go to extremes.
It’s okay to show off sometimes.
But awareness is key.If I know what I’m doing and why — I’m already doing better.
There’s no study (yet) on how our brains react differently to showing vs. sharing.
But I bet there is a difference.
Those who succeed and stay grounded — I think they’ve found ways to share more than they show.
Still figuring all this out. But writing helps.
Let me know what you think, if you’ve ever thought about this too.
Thank you so much for reading!
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