Hello from a social media-less me!
As you may know, I’m in the midst of a little break from social media to cultivate more space in my day-to-day, so I thought it would be wise to share what I’ve learned thus far with those who are curious.
For some food for thought to get your wheels turning, here’s a blurb from the “see you later” Instagram post I posted a few weeks ago to kickoff the cleanse: “If used right, the Social Media world can be a place to cultivate community, a place to feel seen and heard, a place to share wins and struggles, and a place to find healing if you create it to be. With that being said, it’s also a place to mindlessly scroll. It’s a place to post pictures of your day-to-day because sharing has become the norm, an app to open when you’re sitting in stillness, and a place to resort to when things feel uncomfortable and unfamiliar. The good news is, when I reach the point of the latter, I know it’s time to take a little break. I know it’s time to regain presence, get comfortable with NOT sharing, and relearn how grounding and magical it feels to sit with stillness and ease.”
So, here I am — two weeks into my quest to show up more and scroll less, and truthfully, at this point in time, I don’t miss the online social world (*yet*). The break has felt both lovely and needed, and the amount of messages I’ve received from people wanting to do the same got me thinking that maybe space from social media is something most people need from time to time. In any case, I’m noticing shifts in my presence, my focus (Dharana in Sanskrit) — my reengagement with the little things that used to feel ordinary, yet often feel hard to come by in the technological driven world we’re living in.
Here are the moment-to-moment shifts I’m noticing thus far:
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I’m walking to teach my yoga classes looking UP rather than gazing down at my phone.
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I’m listening to my favorite podcast every Friday without scrolling during it.
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I’m taking a few deep breaths in the morning instead of grabbing for my phone first thing.
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I’m feeling fully present during my meals.
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I’m taking an occasional selfie just for ME when I feel pretty.
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I’m watching a show without my phone in hand.
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I’m taking pictures for the sake of wanting to capture moments rather than share them.
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I’m sitting with a feelings of discomfort as they arise rather than numbing them with mindless scrolling.
I’m sure there are many more shifts to come, but so far, this experience has been both humbling and rewarding as can be.
If you’re feeling compelled to join me, my best advice is to go for it and see what happens when you put down the phone and give yourself the gift of reengagement with the life you’re living.
Often, when we give ourselves this space, we realize that the present moment is really all there is.
In wholeness and with lots of love,
Beth
