Recently I did the unthinkable – I put myself, my husband and my two sons on a technology detox! As I packed every device away, I literally had a lump in my throat and felt uneasy about what was to come. It had been building to this point for about two months – after our move to another country. If we felt lonely or had feelings come up that were uncomfortable to feel – like missing family and friends – we resorted to filling ourselves up with Internet, social media, TV, movies and gaming devices. I had found myself going to my iPhone several times in just an hour. The need to connect with people was strong.
I realised that when I was tired, stressed or lonely, I would go and turn the telly on….. ahh, relief…. I could lose myself in a program or movie. Even though I personally didn’t watch much TV, I felt the most desperate when I made the choice to take away the remotes.
Before and After Our Technology Detox
After the initial shock for my sons aged 10 and 11 (which lasted all of 5 minutes), they understood that it was something for us all to experience – what life was like without the distractions of technology. Before the detox, even with time limits they would check out on gaming devices, lack focus, be disorganised and have a fogginess. Once they accepted the fact of the detox, they immediately looked around their rooms and found things they used to play with. They played marbles outside, kicked a soccer ball, played with lego, went to the park and did experiments.
The first morning after beginning our technology detox, I woke up with a smile on my face – I felt an instant freeing feeling. Everyone felt amazing and so did the house – sounds too good to be true? Well it truly was just like that: everyone still had issues with the decision, especially the boys, but it was like this weight had been lifted off us all. Usually I would wake up and reach for my phone beside me to check something, even if it was just the weather! One son would get up and turn on a TV program and the other would join him or play on his iPod. I realised we were all literally hooked into technology in different ways.
How do you know what you are like with something if you don’t have the time without it to feel and see the difference?
We were able to see each other for who we truly are without all the distractions of TV, phones, gaming devices, etc, and hiding behind them.
The boys completed their homework with no pushing, were super organised in their rooms and ready for their day at school. What was very clear to see and feel also was that the fogginess that is usually there was completely gone – our eyes sparkled! We were all left to feel what our bodies wanted to do.
We cooked together and ate as a family, talked about our days and shared our feelings. We went to sleep earlier than usual as we were free to feel how tired we were instead of getting drawn into a TV program at night and going past that time when you really feel to put yourself to bed. During the day I noticed that without the distractions it was easier for me to have a rest and lie down whenever I felt tired.
Nothing was too much trouble or too hard to do. We really noticed how much time we had previously wasted focussing on things that didn’t have a heartbeat; our lack of connection to family and society became more apparent. Now if I feel to connect with someone I call them and say ‘hi’.
Since finishing our technology detox, old habits of getting lost in some form of technology still creep in, but with this detox experience allowing us to feel the effect on our bodies of the overuse of technology, we can definitely see and feel the difference and arrest it a lot sooner.
Technology OVERLOAD – Bringing Back Connection
Technology overload and saturation is so prevalent in society, especially with children and teenagers. Our sons say that video console games are all the boys talk about at school and if you don’t have the latest inappropriate violent game, you’re left out of the loop. Girls are excluded if they’re not on social media taking photos of themselves. This is in grades 4 and 6!!
What are we saying to others when we are always looking at our phones or computer screens? It can’t be that we are so important that we don’t have time to talk to others. As a result of our technology detox, our family was able to share how it feels when each of us ignores ourselves and each other when we are checked out with technology. I looked around and observed technology overload almost everywhere – friends, family, work colleagues and people out at shopping centres – nobody truly being with each other as they are looking at their phones instead.
Since this experience I have no desire or need to connect to others from behind a screen – or to check my emails continually. All I can say is:
The feeling of freedom to feel and think of what is needed next is so clear since my technology detox.
Technology is all around us and we use it every day, but perhaps we need to consider whether we are using it to support our lives or whether we are trying to get technology to give to us what we will not give to ourselves…
I feel it’s worth taking the time to consider and appreciate that we can still stay connected with ourselves and with each other whilst living in a world of technology.
By Aimee Edmonds, Vancouver
Further Reading:
Does Technology Simplify our Lives?
What’s right with this world?
Anti-Social Behaviour
1,003 Comments
The more I connect to myself and others without a screen the difference is becoming more noticable. Videos of people or pictures of landscapes can be beautiful but receiving it from the source, not the screen is far grander.
I agree Leigh, I never thought I would say that TV and movies are so boring compared to the real thing. I mean, I loved nothing more than after a week of work on a Friday getting a movie and takeaway and sitting on the lounge with my family. It really does come down to experimenting and experiencing what life is like without those vices or material things that we take as normal or even a must in our lives, to fully appreciate how many other things our bodies would actually rather choose to do.
I can so relate to the constant distraction the technology in our households provide. It is all coming from a supposing lack of willingness to feel what is going on, and thus instead choose to check out and get engaged in activities are far from supporting us.
Yes Benkt, when we don’t want to feel something we can choose anything to help us with that… and not always what we would perceive as a vice to use. Getting overly involved in our children, work or with family or friend issues is something that tends to go under the radar as a distraction but is just as insidious as devices.
In the past I would have thought it was pretty cool to sit and watch movies. I never could do marathon movie or TV watching for hours and hours though, I always felt terrible after it. I’ve had a few international flights lately and I realised how much it doesn’t draw me in anymore, I have completely no interest, desire or need to use my time to sit and veg out. Instead what has felt very supportive is continue my usual routine of working on my laptop and also resting if needed. I then have no jet lag or exhaustion at my destination… maybe there is something to what we watch and do on a plane that contributes to jet lag?
I love your technology detox experiment – it shows how habitual we can become and allow something to run us rather than us running it and staying in command. The same could be said about food and many other things, big and small, that we can so easily allow to take over and fill the gaps that we don’t want to feel.
Very true Gabriele, habitual feels like comfort and doing things as we always have, even if it hasn’t ever been supportive for us at all. It’s giving ourselves a moment to feel our bodies without it, which is key to exposing what it was truly doing to us.
Technology is potentially a great tool but ‘perhaps we need to consider whether we are using it to support our lives or whether we are trying to get technology to give to us what we will not give to ourselves…’ It is crazy how we turn to a device to give us connection rather than connect with the people around us. Having given my TV away I am now conscious that I can check out just as much surfing the internet so, for me, it is about addressing the underlying issue of why I still feel the need to check out because I will always find a way of doing so unless I take steps to build my connection with myself and stay steady when uncomfortable feelings come up that I would previously have tried to bury by checking out. This is a work in progress but it feels beautiful to be more open to seeing what is there to be seen without the need to distract myself.
I love what you’ve shared here Nikki, it’s a great reminder for all parents and caregivers to feel past the reactions or resistance of children to the truth of what they need and supports them most. Many many times the outburst or upset is purely from what they have let in to affect them and it’s nearly like coming off a drug or addiction. Then they get to feel themselves again.
I have noticed that children who are quite responsible and engaged in the home, can quickly have all that drop by the wayside when TV and screens creeps in. As adults we have a responsibility to guide children through this as the pull of TV and screens is quite hard to resist. I have found that kids love it when they are supported out of it, even though their initial reaction may not seem so thankful.
I remember many years ago when my children were young we decided to ditch the TV and its distractions and just live and share with each other, we had so much more interaction with each other,the kids played outside with each other and had various pets to care for, and that was only TV. Today is another matter the checked outness is huge with not just the young but with all ages, it is no wonder that the rates of Alzheimer are expected to increase in a huge way in coming years.
Jill, there is such a gap between living with purpose and attending to what is needed compared to living with little to no purpose by checking out and not dealing with temporal every day things. What is funny though is that many of us say with enthusiasm that living with abandonment, flying by the seat of our pants etc. is really living.
In some recent observations I have seen how the technology of today can encourage relationships to be not so supportive, and that it is possible for people to engage with activities they perhaps would not otherwise engage with, and to say online what they would dare not say to a person’s face or to do what they would not ever do in real life. But somehow online it seems ok, like we can get away with it. I feel that it is important to have times of no technology influencing us in our homes, times that support us and when we can re-connect to our physical bodies again and be present with each other.
“As a result of our technology detox, our family was able to share how it feels when each of us ignores ourselves and each other when we are checked out with technology. I looked around and observed technology overload almost everywhere – friends, family, work colleagues and people out at shopping centres – nobody truly being with each other as they are looking at their phones instead.” I am seeing this in my own life with certain people as I try to speak to them, these people are fixated with their phones and they just aren’t there, so they unintentionally ignore you when you try to have a simple conversation with them. It is truly disturbing, as these people are not even aware of it occurring. It seems normal to them. Our society really needs more blogs like that to expose the insidiousness of technology and put it into perspective. Is it a necessary evil?
“Technology overload and saturation is so prevalent in society, especially with children and teenagers. Our sons say that video console games are all the boys talk about at school and if you don’t have the latest inappropriate violent game, you’re left out of the loop. Girls are excluded if they’re not on social media taking photos of themselves. This is in grades 4 and 6!!” This is a powerful revelation. What an awesome idea to introduce to our society-to bring back some balance with technology, otherwise it feels like it has taken over our lives and is slowly destroying them, without us even realising it.
Technology, when used purposely, can support us to create a more even flow in life where there is simplicity and purpose which allows us to be more for the good of all.
I am amazed at how much we actually have become so pulled into technology that we no longer appreciate it and what it brings let alone ourselves! There are phones these days with more horse power so to speak than a desktop computer was just under a decade ago. That’s huge! Do we even understand and value the gift technology truly is or do we just take it as a given?
I feel most especially the younger generation now just take it as a given… well even expected. I can remember when the first mobile car phone came in and it was the size and weight of a brick and we were totally amazed and appreciated the fact that on long car trips we could call ahead for accommodation or call for directions etc. instead of having to drive until you could ask someone at a service station.
Congratulations on offering your sons such a gift of understanding and awareness. Technology should not be taken as a given.
Yes I agree Heather, the whole family is now much the wiser and their eyes are open wider to the true effects of technology overload.
I absolutely use technology for relief from how I’m feeling. It’s so strong sometimes that it feels a bit like a drug. It’s a wonder why we avoid simply being with ourselves so much, because as you’ve shared here Aimee, it’s actually so much more natural and ‘comforting’ in a way and also so much more supportive than being checked out in front of a screen.
I not so long ago put myself on a facebook detox. I had noticed the same thing as you describe, every time I was tired or had something come up I didn’t want to feel, I was straight on facebook checking out of my body. It absolutely one vice I used to not connect with myself and others.
A huge part of technology are the images it gives to us, the internet is literally an array of imagery which we interact with. And so what is so beautiful about this blog, is that not only were you giving technology a rest, but releasing your bodies from the constant stimulation of imagery that we are fed, and so you made room for your eyes to see the truth and to not just rely on what is being fed to you from beyond the screen.
As this article is presenting it’s not about turning our back on something and pretending it doesn’t exist because we don’t like how it is but it’s about being more and more aware of the quality you are in when you are with that ‘something’. Technology is a great example, it has brought our worlds closer and yet you feel more apart then ever before, how can that be? We can only talk of quality as it’s not about doing more or less but about how we are. The more and more aware of this you become the more you see that it’s our quality that brings our relationships true. Remember the old saying, ‘quality not quantity’, to me this already confirms we know it but have walked away or toned down our awareness of this knowing.
This reminds me of an appointment I had with an Esoteric practitioner many years ago, where I was upset and distressed that I didn’t feel like I spent enough time with my children because of work, chores, study etc. and he said, do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time with someone who meets you in full…. I straight away thought of Serge Benhayon and how even though I only saw him physically 3 or 4 times a year and maybe spoke with him for 5mins at a time, I never felt like I needed or had to have more time together. So I totally get ‘quality over quantity’.
Awesome blog Aimee. To bring awareness to how we use technology is very much needed in a society where I feel is very much addicted to using technology as a distraction and often as a form of avoiding true connection. It is how we use technology that has an impact us and this affects how we are with ourselves and with each other.
It’s great to open up to these type of things and I say go for it. We often have time like this away from screens and keep things simple. We end up walking, playing cards, drawing, talking and pretty much anything you want to do. I know one thing is for sure our house reminds me of my childhood, building cubby houses out of furniture and the list goes on. There is a different quality to life when we do this, we have more time to see each other, more space and as they say fun for the whole family. There is more to life then how we see it and at times it’s great to peel it back to appreciate the simple things, i.e the person in front of you.
Beautiful Ray, and we all love connecting and listening to each other. I know when I just stop and hear about my boys day or throw a ball with them, they light up and start sharing things that they usually hold back on.
I have recently watched a neighbour limit the screen time for their children due the rapid levels of fluctuating behaviour escalating in their home. The noticeable difference in these children is tangible.
This is such an inspiring exercise Aimee. I just love the idea. recently a friend and I decided to put ourselves on a program for 7 days that meant we were not to be on our phones and checking social media an hour before bed. A time we often check out when we need to the least because we are already so tired and the stimulation from the screen and all the stuff coming with it is so not conducive to a good nights sleep.
We found that we loved it, that it was a relief to not feel like we needed to ‘check in’ with the world and what was going on – cause let’s get real…nothing of huge importance is really going on in the world of social media anyway.
So, whilst we slip up here and there, we have made it an ongoing thing…it’s so much better going to sleep without the busyness of all the ‘stuff’ that comes at your through the internet. I highly recommend it!
Love it Elodie! Doesn’t it open up so much more space for connection and just feeling what you feel to do together. Imagine if people with insomnia or having other troubles sleeping, experiencing nightmares and waking up drained tried the program you put yourself on. Our bodies show us loud and clear what we take on and if what we put in to it is not conducive with the love that it is…. and most of us don’t even consider that when we check-out on social media or any other device before bed is like ingesting poison. I can feel that after watching TV and how much my mood than changes.
What is really important to me about this blog, is how it brings technology in to balance with normal life. Because we are after all in a technological age, and it is wise to adapt to this situation and to not fight it, but to learn how to be with it in harmony, utilising technology for the greater whole and not purely for self gain or entertainment. But maybe in order to live with technology in this way, it s important to know what it is like to live without it all together. That is, to have a clear known experience of life from all angles so that not one angle takes over and is the dominant force of life.
There is such an addictive nature to technology that yes, I can understand the trepidation of what would come pre-detox. But once the withdrawal symptoms have passed, it is the same in my household, where creativity comes back as does the joy of simply being oneself.
I have felt the pull to numb myself with TV watching often to avoid feeling what was truly going on for me as a young girl. It was often a crutch when I was feeling that there were parts of my life that I needed to look at that were not working or even to avoid responsibility for what was needed at the time.
“We really noticed how much time we had previously wasted focusing on things that didn’t have a heartbeat” this really stands out for me in exposing the current addiction to devices and the latest gizmo rather than connecting with living, breathing people and nature. Many years ago – before the invention of modern technology – I spent a week with 3 friends in a remote cottage where there was no electricity, no plumbing, so no central heating or water on tap. We spent our days trimming and cleaning the paraffin lamps, collecting water from the well, cutting firewood, stoking the fire and preparing fresh food – as there was no fridge. It was a magical time where we really came to feel and know each other more deeply.
When I look at the way that entertainment and communication technology is being used today I feel a great sadness, to watch so many bright young people seemingly draining their lives away while staring at a screen. This feeling often makes me react and I either become frustrated or angry, but really I am just sad about it, because it is not normal to be so zonked out on a screen, and it is not normal to feel so de-energised the way that screens can do that. Essentially though, as I have recently come to realise, is that each one of us has to want to be and to live in connection with our bodies, no one can force this upon us or make us want to have it, ultimately if we want to zone-out on a screen, then we have every right to do that. It’s just so special when someone comes along who loves you so dearly that they are willing to turn the screen off and give you the opportunity to be with yourself again, to feel the loveliness of who you are and maybe even to enjoy nature again.
I love your commitment to offer yourself and your family the opportunity to let go of what we can otherwise allow to consume or control us on a regular basis. Spending half my day on the computer for work or study, I can only wish I had that option for I can imagine the benefits would be remarkable like you have experienced. There is definitely an obsessive or distracting element that can creep in that is deeply detrimental to our connection with selves and others.
Hello Aimee and this is not an experiment in our house but more ‘normal’ for us. We have noticed huge changes in how we all interact without going to devices. They have their place within the home but first we are about the people and watch how we are all interacting and from there make a call on what happens next. I have noticed the conversations and depth of understanding in the house has changed, we feel closer. I love this idea you had back when you wrote this blog and when you make a change like this the change in how we are with each other is unmeasurable, thank you.
A technology detox sounds like a great experiment to do. We have become so reliant on technology in today’s world that we think we can’t do without it. Using technology in this way where it affects us when it is taken away is a sure sign that we are addicted without even noticing it. It has become so much our ‘normal’ way of being that we don’t even question this addiction.
There are a number of different games you list – the old school marbles for instance, that have long been consigned to ancient memory in favour of the instant entertainment offered by the phone, laptop etc. The develop different skills, different behaviours and connections between people.. and that feels like the biggest lack if we get too obsessed with all the technology that surrounds us these days.
There is so much that has been given way and that as a collective we don’t stop to question Simon… like what you have just shared. Now, amongst primary and high school children, talking is texting and playing with your friends is having headphones on and having a virtual play by competitively outsmarting or physically shooting each other in a game. This is not normal but has been made normal because we put a label on it, as advancement, and how it ‘just is’ in today’s world.
Technology is the modern day drug that is even more addictive because it is easy to think that it isn’t poisonous. I would say it is even more sinister because who is ever going to think that hours of unnecessary time online is going to causing all sorts of harmful actions, words and behaviours elsewhere in our lives?
Well said Vicky, and it comes under the guise of playing or connecting, so why would we ever consider that it would affect us detrimentally. We need to come back to what is true connection with ourselves and each other and then look out at the distractions and addictions from there. Then there may be more honesty. My son just shared that a new phone is coming out tomorrow, he called out what he felt… how they have changed things only to make money, but also how cool it is and that is what will get people to buy it. It is so true, we don’t often stop to feel what is going on behind many new technology advancements etc.
It is so easy to become hooked on technology and in that way it becomes like any other drug that we use to not feel what is going on for us. Sooner or later we need to stop running away from ourselves and face whatever hurts we carry. When we do that we can easily feel comfortable in our own skin and not need to use any form of distraction to avoid ourselves.
It’s sad to see the world so lost in technology and actually believing that we are using it to be more connected. The connection offered over social media, gaming or anywhere across devices and the Internet is 99% not a true and loving or inspiring connection. Instead it provides a false sense of connection that’s really controlling with the ability to stay in protection and comfort and not actually be intimate and open.
So true Danielle, and why would we question it when all we see is others choosing the same thing and all believing that it is a true way to connect. That is why it is so important to show another way… expose lovingly what gets in the way of us sharing ourselves openly with each other and getting the right support to heal this.
I don’t know if I am the worst one for being hooked into technology in my family but I would have to be up there. The hook is strong and kind of crept up on me. I love it when we go camping and there’s no chance of using any of it. I love feeling more connected to myself. When I am on the train, I love looking out of the window or looking around at the people and this doesn’t happen when I am on a device. The convenience of checking my emails has not improved my efficiency with replying to them. I don’t feel that I get more done since being able to do those tech things anywhere. I just feel what is lost are all those quiet, pensive moments that made me feel calm.
It’s definitely time to review what is necessary, what serves me and let go of the rest.
Kids these days are not being raised by parents, but by technology. The fact that most parents are not as up to speed with the social trends of the younger generations, especially when it comes to technology, coupled with hugely busy and stress-full lives, results in most leaving the technology to the kids instead of truly understanding what is going on for them. It is definitely not the technology, it is how we are raising our children and our connection with ourselves that are the issues here.
Well said Joshua, when we come from this understanding we can’t blame anything outside of ourselves for why we are in the mess or unloving place we have chosen to be in.
Technology is something that is such the focus of our lives these days, the way it is not being used, whether it is our phones, iPads, computers, the level of connection with each other has diminished. We feel so much more at home now in front of these devices, not as comfortable being able to be open to our fellow neighbours, colleagues or family. So i loved reading about your technology detox, very inspiring indeed.
So where and when are the “ detox with Aimee” workshops starting? I reckon there would be millions of parents joining… It really is such an intense problem and it is wonderful to read about a breakthrough.
Interesting question Chris? Definitely needed as you say! We can start by openly sharing our own experiences with how we use or hide behind techonology with other parents, adults and children…. and lead by example. I’m sure you have also experienced this, when you start talking with another parent about children getting stuck on games etc. that everyone is feeling the same tension and angst in their own homes with this problem but not sure of what to do about it.
After the initial reaction to not having it with me forgetting to take my mobile phone with me in the morning feels great – not so much because of the phone calls but because of the mass of other uses with modern smart phones.
I’ve had this experience as well Michael and it is very revealing to find out how attached we’re to our smart phones and all the distractions or connection they offer us. I find when I don’t want to feel something or I’m not sure what is needed in a situation or really busy, instead of checking in with myself and feeling what is going on, I turn to my phone to look at something or check something.
Technology offers us a great many promises. With it we can feel connected with eachother because we can be engaged in this constant thread of communication with eachother. On the one hand this is lovely, and it can appear to be unifying. However, in my experience, the reality tends be quite different, with social media sites often being used for escapism, or abuse. Is it therefore vitally important that in addition to the online world, we are also building and developing our actual world and the relationships therein?
I had to read this blog again, to remind me of that sentence of how the TV is such a relief. If there is something challenging I’m feeling… I can just switch on the TV and it all fades into the background, no need to look at / deal with the issue. Such a check out, and yet its the primary form of ‘entertainment’ in the modern age (albeit with social media making a good challenge for pole position these days).
So true Simon, and it is something we have asked for by the masses to not feel our hurts and issues. There will always be some form of entertainment, magazines, stimulation etc. while we are looking for relief and an opportunity to check out, until we see it for what it is and no longer chose it.
This is such a great blog to revisit Aimee, there is always more for me to reflect upon and notice how I am using technology in my everyday life. Recently I am noticing how often I am checking emails or working on the computer right up until I go to sleep, and I notice how this can affect the quality of my sleep and I am waking up tired. I am going to experiment for a week or 2 without doing computer work just before bed and see how differently I feel the following day – I will let you know how I go.
Great experiment Anna, there is such much wisdom we can share with each other when we are honest and experiment for ourselves with what is truly working for us and what is working against us. Look forward to hearing how it went.
For many of us doing a detox like this is unthinkable yet it reveals how dependant we have become on technology to the point where for many we would not even know ourselves and what we do without it. I reckon the key to having a healthy relationship with technology is to live in such a way where we know who we are first and it is seen as a tool and not the be all and end all of life
I made this connection this week how our devices are not unlike a child’s ‘security blanket’ or toy…something that many must have to be able to function, go to sleep, feel safe in some cases, be intimate and have alone time with themselves in this world. Not everyone uses technology like this…but this needing to occupy or keep ourselves stimulated is huge and not going away any time soon. From my own experience whenever I go for technology and it is definitely not needed for work or paying the bills etc. it comes down to not being connected to myself and craving that connection again but looking for it on the outside.
Aimee, I love the title ‘Technology Detox’ – and it is so true, it seems to be something unfathomable these days! I can share from my observations how important this is – I have certainly been witness to the changes that happen in kids when they are doing a lot of screen time versus not doing screen time. When kids ‘do screen time’, often it feels like they loose themselves a little – their eyes change, the way they speak changes and when you ask them to stop the screen time they can get grumpy or even aggressive and very disrespectful. Contrast with this a technology detox when screen time is banned for even a few days to a week, and you have a different child – one who looks you in the eyes, has a spark and a vitality and a willingness to be a part of things. I know that there is often more involved in the picture that just screen time alone, but the difference can be phenomenal to observe. I certainly know which kid I would rather hang out with!
Thank you Aimee – You have me rethinking the way I use technology. Lately I have noticed that I feel drained when I spend time flicking through emails and social media on my phone and I wonder how my energy levels might change if I stopped checking out in this way. I am also becoming more aware of the impact my technology check outs are having on my relationships. It is absurd to seek connection through a device when we are missing out on the people we share our lives with.
It is absurd Leonne, I watched a revealing video this week where devices were removed from each picture of families and friends together… it was awful seeing and feeling the emptiness and disconnection between them and how absorbed their whole bodies were looking at something without a face. The thing is we have been led to believe that devices don’t hurt us like people can, but this is a big lie, because the more we turn to devices to not connect, the more we cement our hurts, not deal with them and push ourselves away in the process.
Technology detox sounds awesome and I can see the benefits that come from this. In children I can particularly see the changes when you take away the ‘screen time’ – first there is a grumpiness that comes in and you get the complaints and the dragging of the feet (this is boring, there is nothing to do), the lethargy kicks in and the glazed eyes. But once this phase is passed, it is like life is returned to the young ones – they rediscover how to go out and play and use their imagination and how to interact with people. Their eyes have sparkles again and they actually look you in the eye and connect again. The changes are enormous and wonderful to see.
Technology is quite a unique distraction, as we can literally carry it in our pocket 24/7, all days of the year, without having to go and buy something or be at home to use it. Due to it’s accessibility it’s vital that we can gauge when we are using it for proper use – to communicate, connect and so forth – and when we are using it as a checkout. If we’re not aware of when we use it as a distraction then as you’ve shared Aimee it can become a huge and dominating part of everyday life.
I don’t have it with TV, my addiction is with my I-phone. I have this habit of looking at it every time I have a moment. Even when there is no sound going off, I am checking. With travelling, I also have this habit to grab my phone and check things. Why can’t I just sit with myself, I am wondering. Really something to ponder on…
It is so true what you say Aimee and we use many devices in the illusion of connection when really we are disconnecting and checking out.
Such a powerful experiment Aimee, I can feel that fog myself when I have been in front of a screen too long. I always feel better on days where my work takes me out and about to meet people and I definitely use computers as a distraction to fill up an emptiness. The less I do this the better I feel and the more I have to bring to my conversations with people.
Spot on Stephen, this is fantastic – the connection with people (and this includes self) is far more important that screen time!
Such a vital topic that should be more broadly discussed because we’ve essentially set humanity on one of the biggest social experiments ever. In ten years’ time we’ll begin to reap the so-called rewards of our relationship with technology – those unintended consequences from the impact of technology on the connection with ourselves and others and the reasons why we ‘use’. Technology detoxes will no doubt soon be top of the self-help leaderboards.
The word detox literally means to rid something of poison. So, this blog raises the question, from what poison do we feel free when we remove excessive entrainment technology from our homes? And why do we allow that poison in the first place to be there?
I recently removed the TV from my living room wall and put it away, I hadn’t turned it on for ages and now the room feels so different without it. I feel less imposed upon, freer, and the room is more spacious and peaceful. I am amazed at the difference. Lovely to read of your experience and how your family is reconnecting deeply as a result.
Aimee, I congratulate you and your family for taking the plunge into technology blackout for a week. Every time I hear of families doing this there seems to be only positive outcomes, through connection to siblings and Parents, or Parents spending more quality time fully focussed on their children and time for each other. I know it is harder for this generation to spend time together than it was when rearing my own children but it is worth the effort to build those lasting strong connections with family and not feel isolated from each other with or because of technology.
Brilliant blog Aimee and you have nailed it with this sentence: “Technology is all around us and we use it every day, but perhaps we need to consider whether we are using it to support our lives or whether we are trying to get technology to give to us what we will not give to ourselves…”
Inspired to look at life and situations in another way by attending the latest UK Unimed Retreat, Serge Benhayon really brought into focus what it means to truly appreciate the amazing transformations we see all around us, and how TV and entertainment has absolutely nothing on being in life, saying yes to what is needed and building true connections with others. Technology has its place, but when it starts to interfere with what really matters, then it is a sure sign we are using it to not be fully in life and need a place to escape and relieve what we react to around us. Which we definitely do not find healing in.
Last night after dinner my daughter and I were wrapped in a blanket in the hammock looking out at the stars and the beautiful full moon and we had a gorgeous time laughing and talking together. Some people may feel we are weird because we don’t have a tv, but there is no movie or tv show that entertains us like these precious moments we experience together.
Technology serves a purpose and it is a great source in which we can work and connect to many. When it becomes a matter of urgency throughout the day the shift becomes more of an addiction that stops the rest of our daily routines to support ourselves.
Making the choice to scroll on your phone while eating your lunch rather than appreciate the yummy food that was prepared and enjoy all the flavours.
To sit with family and friends and check your emails rather than stopping to share your day and appreciate another’s
These and many more examples show the disconnection that may occur when we choose to make life screen time not connection time.
After a while of not watching TV, life becomes too interesting to give it up for some “chill time”. What happens to our relationships, our commitments and responsibilities when we watch tv, do they go on hold? Living with attention to our life and the quality of what is happening is far more refreshing and rewarding than any TV show or movie!
We say we love our TV, we love all the devices we can have access to, we love our movies and often say ‘I can just sit down and loose myself for hours’… but what are we loosing when we say this? What are we saying to ourselves and others before we think of checking out and loosing ourselves? I can see that for me the dialogue has been ‘I don’t want to deal with this right now’ or ‘I’m tired and I don’t want to stop and completely care and nurture myself by looking at how I have been living, eating, communicating, working etc.’. Imagine if we were totally honest like this now… then would we not be more aware of how we feel when we get up from that TV or computer screen? With more honesty we would then not bury and push down more in our body by defending and making excuses for our choices.
Aimee, I love this article, it reminds me of when we were kids and there was no extra technology other than a TV which was only watched in the evenings. It has become much easier to check out, sometimes without realising it.
Just reading the title of this blog made me feel uneasy and I wanted to skim read as there was a part of me that didn’t want to feel or want to go there which is a good sign that we need a technology detox in our house.
And the looking at the iphone too much… I would hate to think how many times I look at mine. It just goes to show that we now have a new addiction that is totally socially acceptable yet I am sure it has many many side effects that we will start to see in society sooner or later.
That’s the beauty and power of sharing with each other, most the time it is not a surprise at all because we are fully aware but stuck in a cycle of abuse or disregard… and it’s another opportunity to be honest with ourselves. Constantly looking at my iPhone is no different to me grabbing for a snack here and a 1000 thoughts there… its all a way of not being with myself and feeling what is there. And I totally agree the effects on our bodies, society and our relationships are massive and we don’t really need to wait to feel this truth.
We are most definitely overloaded with technology, but few will see it as this, as there will always be a drive for external evolution until the inner journey is re-awakened.
Technology certainly has a valuable place in our society however it’s easy to cross over the line in terms of appropriate use and checking out behaviour. In my work role I am talking to more and more adults who are hooked into the gaming or social networking culture and I notice this amongst family and friends also. This often seems to be a substitute for real connection with another person and family life is often the most affected area. How sad that we seem to be slipping further and further down this slope. Aimee, from reading your blog I can definitely see the advantages of having regular technology detoxes.
Aimee this is a great blog, to actually observe how technology effects us, and gaining an insight into how it either supports us or how we use it as a means of escape.
Yes Susan, it can be a huge distraction and a place to hide. Instead of saying no to it I’m starting to say yes to responsibility and what is more important.
Great to come back and read this Aimee. I haven’t watched TV for about a year but notice that I do feel very different when I get over absorbed in the computer and phone. A great reminder to be aware of how we are using technology and if we are using it to support or avoid and distract.
Me too Angela, my whole mood and demeanor changes when I have used technology irresponsibly… as a companion instead of as a tool that is needed.
What I see happening today is many children being allowed to stay up late playing games on their computers, and then in the mornings to play on their tablets. By the time they get to school they are exhausted, and in some cases, have already started drinking high energy drinks in the mornings just to get them through the day. This is with children as young as 10 and 11 years of age and when I see this it makes me wonder what kind of a future is being created by the gaming industry and if they will ever be held fully accountable.
This has a massive impact on their relationships, learning and growing. My teenage son tells me stories of friends playing till 2am in the morning then going to school all day. Of course they are unable to focus and not caring for themselves. It feels like a giving up, and not wanting to feel. There is so much talk of teenagers not needing to learn at school because they are going to become full-time pro gamers and that’s all they need.
The gaming industry have a responsibility yes, but so do we… they are just answering a call for greater ways to check out and not deal with life. How are we contributing?
Yes society is saturated with technology… of course… but it is a tip of an ever increasing iceberg that humanity has foundered on, and will grow until collectively we feel the emptiness of what we have created.
Yes great point Chris. Of course there will be more technology, ways of escaping, being created by emptiness to fill an emptiness until we step out of the collective consciousness of burying our hurts and dealing with them. That is where once the light has been turned on we have a responsibility to reflect what is true, another option to choose from.
An experience never to be forgotten Aimee – a new marker in your body never to be forgotten. I have observed people constantly on their phones, hand held games, iPads and all while in the company of family or friends out in a cafe sharing a cuppa. An addiction that begs the question – Why? Sadly many feel alone in the world even when out amongst people and so technology has become a way to avoid or a distraction from this emptiness. Whilst the use of food and other substances can be clearly seen, technology can be overlooked because it gives people something seemingly constructive to do, something to keep the kids quiet or out of mum and dads hair. You have raised a great point for discussion but more importantly for experimentation – Thanks for sharing.
Great comment Christine. It can also be a buffer between two people, instead of stopping and being open with each other. Also I feel how being distracted by anything can be a way to not stop long enough to feel our hurts and protections. Especially I see with children, as technology never rejects them, it’s there and ready 24/7.
It is really interesting how Aimee has used the word ‘detox’ in relation to having a break from a technology overload, because we usually associate detoxes with eliminating poisons from our bodies. So Aimee raises an extremely important question about what exactly are we allowing and doing to our bodies with excessive technology/home entertainment devices?
I can feel from what you have shared Shami that when we go to technology to check out, to take the edge off, to numb ourselves, to forget about the world or what needs doing… then we open ourselves up to all the poison just like if we injected drugs into our veins or drank alcohol. This will unsettle many but really bottom line if we go into it in this way we are making a conscious choice to play ball with what we absorb which leads to needing to ‘detox’ or clear the poison from our bodies.
This makes me consider another point, how comfortable would it be if we saw energetically the poison being absorbed into our bodies in cafe’s, restaurants, work places etc. when we hook in to technology to check out? Seeing the dis-ease and poison of porn after watching it? Would we then be up in arms or look at this more honestly, similar to opening the doors on some of the legalized drug cafe’s out there?
Technology can be used to reflect truth, love and brotherhood to humanity and can be healing, as can medicines when used to support the body to heal.
I know I am sometimes quite dependant on my Iphone, which is most of the time within arms reach to check all the latest news… but I started to feel what an enormous distraction it is, and felt to sometimes just leave it downstairs or somewhere out of arms reach. Which feels like a freedom that has come over me, I don’t need to check everything out. As there is me that needs watching, not others.
‘What are we saying to others when we are always looking at our phones or computer screens?’ This is a great question Aimee. How many times can you look around at lunch time and people all sitting at the same table all have their head in their phones and are not at all focusing or engaging at all on the connection and conversation with each other. Surely this is not healthy for our society.
I totally agree Suse, it confirms to others not to come out from behind the screens and connect and relate with each other. We have a rule in our family that whenever we are at the table together whether it’s at home or in a restaurant, phones remain in pockets or bags. Or else we are all sitting there in our own little worlds not being with each other.
And we claim to be free. Yet we are slaves to technology. Why though? Yes we are craving connection to ourselves and others and we are also desperately looking for distraction, recognition, approval and answers. Answers to our own issues and answers about life.
And yet here we have the greater ‘knowledge’ device known to the world… our own bodies.
Technology is not the enemy. We are. The moment we use technology with the intention of simply expressing the love that we are… it will become a tool of brotherhood.
I’ve seen and been apart of how technology can be used as a tool for brotherhood Kathryn, and I’ve also used and use it to distract myself from what I need to do. I find it comes back to when there is a step up needed in responsibility or commitment in my life that I choose to turn to technology to resist it. Being honest why I am using it is the key.
A lot of parents use TV as a baby sitter. They park their kids in front of TV to keep them occupied and out of their hair not taking responsibility for the harm that TV can cause. Kids become zombie like and rely on outside entertainment, no longer relying on their inner world of connection to play and connect to their multidimensionality. So love how you took responsibility and stopped them from losing themselves in the screen.
I see it as an epidemic Mary-Louise, of how to keep a child occupied in an accepted way. Now instead of bringing some toys for a young toddler or baby to play with while shopping or going out for dinner, the iPad or iPhone is set up right in front of the child so even when they are eating they are distracted by watching something. They don’t actually have a chance to sit with themselves without being constantly bombarded by noise and motion. This then becomes addictive and then the parent feels confirmed by the child wanting more…. this is no different to eating sugar everyday because it’s addictive.
Do we ever check-in and feel into what is the energy that comes with these programs we are sitting our precious, delicate, super sensitive children in front of?
For me it is not the TV, as I don’t have a TV, but it is my I-phone and laptop that take a prominent place in my life. It has become so normal to just watch my I-phone, check it, grab it with every noise it makes and to let it have control over my day. I am very much aware of it, yet it is very much part of my life now. For me it is a learning to be with this and establish a healthy relationship with these devices.
For many years I would watch TV or a show from my computer every night before I went to sleep. I felt like I needed to escape and treat myself to a show after a ‘hard’ day at work. This was my ‘down’ time. I stopped this a couple of years ago and for over a year and half have not watched TV or any shows at all. I no longer needed to treat my self as my days were fulfilling enough. The difference in my quality of sleep has been phenomenal, before I would go to sleep checked out and wake up tired. Now I go to sleep connected to me and wake up hours earlier then I used to, feel deeply rested and ready for the day ahead.
Great topic of discussion that affects all of us in so many ways. Just recently a little boy in my room at work told me,
“my mum says I watch too much tv”, he is almost 3 years old, and I said, “you can watch too much can’t you and when you do you kind of feel a bit like a zombie or you don’t want to do too much after that cos you feel a bit lazy”, and he said, “yeah”.
I think we have all experienced that zombie like feeling in front of a TV, unfortunately it is just seen as normal in today’s society, however one day I am sure they will look back and say how harmful and ludicrous it was to get caught up and absorbed in the drama and emotions of others.
Yes I agree Samantha, and the beautiful thing is that many have already seen through the distractions of TV and other technology and sharing this livingness with everyone.
Awesome blog highlighting detrimental effects of the extent to which technology has become a part of our communication and living. I have not lived in a house with a television for three years and have not missed it in any way, I also feel far clearer and connected to my life when I do not use my phone to check social media or access the internet as habit but only when there is a true purpose to do so.
I moved about a year ago and still haven’t had the TV connected, as I have never really been that interested in sitting in front of the TV for hours. I have a young child and she watches the occasional movie but we enjoy playing cards or games and having walks together. I feel this time we spend together is very precious and a beautiful time to connect with each other and experience all the simple pleasures in life free of technology.
Good call Anna what a blessing for your daughter to not have to check out in front of TV for hours and to be able to use that otherwise wasted time on being with each other. You need to share this with other mums.
Yes I agree Mary-Louise, we need to open up and share and show how we can make different choices, then is becomes the norm in society. As we all have the same capabilities and can connect to the same understanding of what is healing and what is harming for our children.
I am sure one day it will be known the deeply harmful effects that checking out for hours in front of a TV screen can have on us. Not being present for so long and being stimulated from the outside must surely be one of the reasons our dementia rates are hitting the roof.
Amazing blog – even the title says so much.
This line is so apt this week in the lead up to Christmas and the many children I’ve heard say what new game they want. Also for me personally around this interesting time of year.
‘whether we are trying to get technology to give to us what we will not give to ourselves…’
I know I’m choosing to watch TV rather than connect with myself and others to avoid exposing feelings and emotions I assume are there but rather not acknowledge or address. But the fogginess you mentioned also dulls my connection with me. It’s not a good trade at all and affects my connection with others so we all lose big time.
We do all lose out big time Karin when we are in that limbo period of checking out, as it then can affect the choices we make after, of what we eat, how we express and how we move through our day.
I just googled mobile addiction and there were many website dealing with this subject. Technology is becoming an accepted drug.
If the intention behind making smart phones was to connect people and truly support this, and they were used as a tool and not made to be something so much more interesting and better than ourselves, then I wonder if there would be the addictions that there are now?
Drug addiction is being replaced by mobile phone addiction, some may see this as a lesser of two evils. I do not as it is destroying kids lives no different to drugs just in a slightly different way.
I didn’t watch television for years. I removed the TV out of my house. About a year ago I watched a TV series somewhere. I was shocked. I could feel so much more clearly what the intensity is of what gets delivered while we see the pictures on the screen. It is very intense and very much not necessary and for sure brings nothing to people accept very heavy energy to digest. And that comes on top of the already high level of what people take in during their day at work. So much in TV is based on drama and fear. We become so used to it that we think it is normal. Which it is not. We are naturally beautiful light beings in a body and drama and fear are not part of us. We don’t want to see the energies we let in or what is really playing out on the television.
I have not been watching TV these past few months, it has naturally dropped away amidst all the other things I have been doing – and also because I have honoured that my body is asking for earlier nights and more space.
And it is amazing how I don’t really miss it at all.
The other night I did decide to watch an episode of something, and I simply observed the hook of the drama and the urge to watch another episode.
TV really has been something that draws people in and takes them away from reality, and as I felt this, I really appreciated feeling the difference and knowing what TV does rather than thinking it has no effect on me whatsoever.
I love your honesty Hannah, that is what allows us to come out of the fog of whatever we have subscribed to, to not feel our hurts or be responsible in life, and see it for what it is and the real effects it is having on our bodies, relationships and life. Very inspiring.
I’ve realised recently and really appreciate that with taking out the TV watching as a comfort in my life that I am now able to complete so much more work that would of been left on the shelf for another day. More importantly it opens up for more conversations and sharing and, much needed quality sleep (earlier to bed) without the interference of the over stimulating hooking in of the impress of TV or other such devices. A great detox.
True freedom and space is there for a quality life when we take the TV out of our daily rhythm.
True freedom is knowing what energy we are choosing that we are then making decisions from.
That is the big question , are we using technology to support us, or does it suck us in and take us over like the lawnmower man. The change that comes over my daughter after playing some of these games or watching children’s programs is very noticeable. You almost have to prize the iPad or whatever out of her hands. It really does my head in sometimes when every member of our house hold is glued to a Skype meeting, computer or other device.
I agree Kevin to much technology can really bring separation within homes and families. And we need to be all careful how we use technology and what we accept and what not.
I know what you mean Kevin, to me it feels like a staleness and stagnation in the home when we are all dis-connected on devices of some sort. Technology highlights it and makes it so obvious when there is that disconnection with ourselves or with each other. The thing is are we also feeling the other less in your face ways that we can disconnect and be in our own little world when with others?
I remember when my daughter was young she wanted to watch televison. I allowed her but asked her to let me know how she was feeling before she started to watch a program and then after it, I asked her if she felt any different. She said things such as – feeling some headache or strange feelings in the head. We did this a few times, then she decided not being interested in it so much anymore. Maybe once a year she would watch something.
We see watching television as such a normal thing even if it is the opposite. So much brought through this channel is based on drama and fear that it drifts people more away from themselves. It is good when we watch to be very aware what energy comes to us. To stay the observer.
I loved re-reading this blog, I know I need to put myself on a technology detox. It is incredible just how much time and energy is put into looking at or wasting time on devices. It is different when there is a purpose for being not them, but particularly by phone, there is not. I am feeling very inspired, looking to apply a lot of what you have shared into my daily rhythm.
Hi Raegan, I know what you mean, and this is becoming more and more obvious in my life too. I find I go to my phone when there is something I just do not want to attend to or complete, it can be something I don’t quite understand or I have brought in some kind of complication. I’m working on seeing it for what it is, which is no different to overeating, and not reaching for that relief but instead feeling what is there to feel. It’s been interesting!
Raegan I agree it is quite alarming the amount of time we spend on technology. At a women’s group recently women shared that the minute they woke up they were on their phone, either on face book, checking their emails or texting. They could not even go to the toilet without their phones,…..this is a problem.
When I think back, how much time I was sitting in front of the TV in the past, unbelievable. So much time, just sitting there and doing nothing, absorbing fantasy stories, which had nothing to do with my real life. Today I know, all the time I was watching television, I was checking out, I didn’t want to feel myself and all my emotions in my body. Thanks to Universal Medicine, I know now, that it doesn’t make sense to override anything in my body and to feel ME, is the key to live soulfully.
Yes Alexander, it is quite shocking after becoming aware of how much what we do affects others, and how much time we can waste on things that keep us further away from family, friends and society. For me I see it now as being in a slumber, and just delaying what needed to be addressed in my life.
I am well aware of how computers and other similar devices can be used as a form of escape and have us disconnecting from ourselves. I have often been frustrated at not being able to accomplish what I have set out to do on my laptop, however appreciating what a huge support it can be and how it is able to connect us to each other over vast distances, how projects can be worked from almost anywhere is amazing. Being true to our own connection with ourselves is vital but as you say there is no reason why we can’t work with the technology of this new era and continue to appreciate what it offers.
‘What was very clear to see and feel also was that the fogginess that is usually there was completely gone.’
This sentence says it all. When I watch TV I am usually wanting to not see something clearly so I let in the energy that that programme comes with. This may sound far fetched but it’s true – it’s something I was very aware of as a child. Saturdays I was glued in front the ‘box.’ I knew I’d feel sick and rubbish at the end of the day but I also knew I didn’t want to feel how lonely I was even when surrounded by my family who I felt were caught up in their own worries and issues too much to see me. Sunday was spent feeling depressed and all because I’d lost connection with me through the fog that I’d let in.
Though I didn’t know it at the time, now I can really relate it to feeling like being stoned or drunk. And I do have to be honest and see how I still play this game of invite the fog in through TV so I don’t feel what I would rather not. But the pay off is so not worth feeling foggy and not myself. And it certainly doesn’t address the underlying issue of me not wanting to see what issue I’ve created and be responsible for it.
It’s wonderful to read how, as a family, you all supported each other to become present together.
Wow, what you bring us here is something very revealing about adults and children watching television and games.
Are we all lost in it like you describe? Do we all use television and computer for a big part to give us an illusionary life to not feel that our daily life is not what we hoped for? Do we all expect something from our surrounding to feel good and then go to the illusionary good because we can’t find it. And then may be one day we realize that it is not to wait for the beauty around us to happen but that we are here to bring that beauty that we are? I started to understand so since I started to attend the workshops and presentations from Serge Benhayon. A great start for a new way of living.
Such an empowering and responsible comment Sylvia – “And then may be one day we realize that it is not to wait for the beauty around us to happen but that we are here to bring that beauty that we are?” This takes away blaming others or expecting others to do it for us or do it first before we bring our amazing qualities out.
Yes it does and it takes away the lie in which we are living which we don’t feel anymore because we sink so deep in the illusion. But there is always this part in us which knows which direction is a more true way and being responsible. It is very much about time we all take that responsibility. The world is getting very sick in many ways. Thanks to ‘The Way Of The Livingness’ we can start to understand that the techniques Serge Benhayon brings to us are gold and the way to go for humanity.
A great lesson. The fact that a detox is required to break the technology gadget habit shows that we know that it is an addiction. We use technology to get things done faster but then use so many different appliances, just because they are there, that we end up having no time to communicate to people.
Yes Mary, this is a big one in the world today getting the next gadget or appliance “just because they are there”. Are we truly purchasing different forms of technology because they are needed to be of service or to give us a little thrill and opportunity to withdraw more?
I have recently moved and not had the tv on at all since I did and it has felt very liberating. Not feeling like I’ve been checking out or numbing each evening in front of the tv. So not only has the detox felt great, it has really been a cleanse. So reading your blog has inspired me to go further and look at other technology devices that I have very embedded in my daily life at the moment, iPhone, iPad, computer. Some are needed, but there are times when I am still going on these devices way too much. So looking forward to making so other changes in those spaces.
Awesome Reagan that you gave yourself the opportunity to be without TV to feel how you were with it. Like everything we sometimes don’t know how attached or needy we are with something if we don’t have time without it. I recently left my cell phone at home, at first I was like ‘oh no’ I won’t be contactable for my children but once I let the schools know, I learnt so much about how I am truly using it. I felt free to choose what I would do in my lunch break because I wasn’t thinking I should check emails etc., and I realised how much I glance at it. I just focused on what I needed to do more.
I love this Aimee. It seems to me that this issue is just getting worse amongst the teenagers in my life. It is really not about the technology though, this is just a modern day way to check out and disconnect from others,
Great call Heidi, it is not really about the technology which I can often get caught on, but its why its being used. Before laptops, iPhones and IPads I used music, TV and food to disconnect from others.
Great points Heidi and Aimee, its not technology that is the issue but how we can distract and numb ourselves with anything we do in life – mine used to be exercise, drama and food.
I haven’t watched TV for over 7 months and this weekend I watched TV again with my cousins. It was quite an experience to feel what the impact of TV is. It disconnects, it is very emotional, loud and disturbing, and at some point I just could not watch it any longer. And like you share, we just keep watching, even though we are tired.
I know what you mean Mariette, and I also see until we have time being at home and not having TV on and the constant noise of technology, its like it is not there. Its like if you lived near a train track, eventually you don’t hear it in the same way, it blends in as you are used to it but if someone came to visit, the trains would have an impact on all their senses as it is not their every day experience. This is how I feel now when I am away from home staying with others that have the TV on continually; it feels like a constant bombardment of noise and action.
I had the same experience a while ago Mariette after not watching for some years. If you watch everyday you are not aware anymore of the impact. We then are used to be in that state which is basically a very poor state to be in.
It is the way with many things. I was used to drinking a lot of coffee and I didn’t notice how huge the effect was on me until I stopped for longer and then drink a bit, it was awful. The more we get back in connection in our body the more clear we feel what is not loving to our body. And it is shocking to see how much is not serving us, yet in one way it is not shocking because deep down I always knew. I just couldn’t find the way to make different choices because of lack of self worth. Since I am attending workshops of Universal Medicine I start to connect more with the immense beauty within me and from there I make more loving choices.
Technology is on the one side great to have like computers, internet and mobile phones. Communication between people is so much easier today. For example project work where several people are involved how great to simply write an email to 5 people at once or set up a group whats app. It is almost like if we are not careful how we use technology and when, than it can become like a constant drive or addiction, a way to keep myself busy and avoiding times of rest and stillness.
I’ve been working with kids who are getting back to basic community. It’s amazing to watch the sparkle return to their eyes and the deepening of relationships that happen.
It is so gorgeous to watch this Jaime. Last night the boys had friends over and after dinner we all sat around talking about our days and what happens at school and what we enjoy and don’t…. it was so natural and such a joy to see these young men open up and share. What was interesting to see was just how much there was to say. It got me pondering on where would this expression go, if they/we turned to video games and TV etc. instead?
I used to watch a lot of TV and would say that I was addicted, because when I was off work I would sit and watch everything and anything all day long, and only get up when it was time to cook the night time meal – then I would watch it from he kitchen.
I don’t watch it very much these days, as I did a detox of my own, but even the little bit I do watch I can feel how it is pulling me to sit and veg out. So I know that if I let myself I could easily get too involved with it again and get sucked back into my old habit of numbing myself.