I can imagine very few situations in which a simple button press can carry so much weight. It's likely the most simple of the mechanisms of social media, yet Likes can alter relationships, self esteem, and how others perceive you. Recently, Facebook and Twitter have made changes to they way users "Like" posts in an effort to improve the experience. Has it worked? Before we can make that call, it's important to note the two major reasons users press the "Like" button.

The first is to show recognition. True across all social media platforms, Likes are a way of saying, "I've seen this post, and I cared enough to press that button." Whether it means, "I agree", "My condolences", "I literally like that", etc., Likes, at the very least, tell other users that you've seen this content and have an opinion on it.

The second reason we Like something applies more so to Twitter. Favorites - as they used to be called - appear on a list that can be accessed through your profile. So, if you don't have time to read an article or open a link, you can star (heart) it and save it for it later.

I see the introduction of hearts a bit differently. While I agree that pressing a heart button thereby Liking an article about a terrorist attack is awkward, it's a minor discomfort similar to Liking a friend's tragic post on Facebook. We've seen hearts used in the same way on sites like Pinterest and WeHeartIt, and it doesn't carry that much weight. (In fact, on Pinterest, I typically heart things I don't like enough to pin on my boards.)

It's unclear why Twitter engagement has increased with the introduction of hearts. Perhaps, this minor cosmetic change has simply made users more mindful of the feature prompting an increase in its use. For me, I took Favorites more seriously - after all, we like many things that aren't our favorites, right? Now that I'm simply Liking a tweet, I do so more frequently.

What do you think? Do you like the new Facebook Reactions? Do you prefer a Star/Favorite or a Heart/Like?

I watch a lot of motivational videos and speeches. When Eric Thomas, Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, and Les Brown speak of dreams, they're usually referring to something different than the dreams of Inception.

When I heard this line being quoted at the beginning of a song, I thought: What if the dreams Cobb is referring to had nothing to do with sleep but, rather, were the long-term vision you have for your life? 

In that case, he's saying that "dreams feel real while we're in them". Our dreams are the manifestation of our innermost desires, so when we accomplish them, of course, they don't feel foreign. However, there will always come a moment when you "wake up" and "realize how things are actually strange", that I-never-imagined-I-would-actually-end-up-here moment. You'll probably smile and ask yourself, "How did you get here?"

In order to make your dreams come true, you have to put in some SERIOUS WORK. You will sacrifice sleep, comfort, and some relationships for it! There WILL be setbacks and plenty of obstacles to overcome. The emotional, physical, and spiritual toll will all but kill you.

Now, one of the brain's coping mechanisms is known as psychogenic amnesia - memory loss due to situations of extreme stress and emotional trauma. This can be a good thing; you don't want to be constantly reminded of your pain as you work your way toward your dreams, right? This memory loss allows you to put some of your sacrifices away in your mind and focus on positive things.

So, if you dream so big that you have to work so hard and go through so much to achieve those dreams, then, once you finally do it, you will be rewarded with a state of presence that forces you to be "right in the middle of what's going on". Happy - enjoying the fruits of your hard labor without a care for "the beginning of the dream". Food for thought.

Who are you? Simple question, but it can be tough to answer. Many reply to this inquiry with who they are in relation to someone/something else. I'm such-and-such's sister; I'm an alumnus of this school; I do this for a living; etc. While these things may be true, they don't do a great job of telling someone who you are.

Personally, I am a woman of integrity, excellence, and individuality. I put forth my best effort in everything and I'm always looking to improve myself. I set very high expectations for myself and I take pride in over-delivering. I don't mind being compared to the greats, but it's important that I remain my own person. I'm a feminist and straight-ally who believes in building up the self-esteem of others. I have a strong interest in social media, marketing, public relations, and advertising, but my overall career goal is to be the best there is at whatever I'm doing.

It's crucial that you define your personal brand (especially if you're a young professional). If you can get the world see you in the same awesome way you see yourself, that opens doors of opportunity faster. Get started by setting aside some time this week to answer that question (Who are you?) and check out Jeff Bullas's Ten Steps To Promote Brand "You" With Social Media.