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"Smart" Phones

And not-so-smart phone usage.

By Michael ThielmannPublished 6 years ago 2 min read
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Be aware of the unaware.

The title says it all folks, and yet this is an issue we can't stress enough in a culture of distract-ability.

Phones and technology have the power to unite and enrich us, or be the harbinger of a zombie techno-pocolypse. It all depends on how we use the tools we have at our disposal.

I prefer to use my devices to put meaningful content into the world that I hope can help someone feel a bit better about themselves. If someone is feeling down on their luck on the bus scrolling thru social media my hope is that they will come across an article or video that will truly inspire them to pursue their passion and know they are worthy of doing so.

The problem is, there simply isn't that much truly heart-felt inspired content, at least relative to the mass of mind-numbing quantity over quality stuff that seems to only exist for the sake of existing.

I assert that we don't have a problem with technology addiction as much as being addicted to the over stimulating material that we access on our devices. We can just as easily put on some meditation music and get in touch with our breathing as we can zone out on epic fail compilations on YouTube. The choice is ours; the problem is, it is easy to give up choice.

This is the momentum of distraction that we face in our real and virtual worlds today. "I'm just gonna watch one funny video," can easily lead to half a day disappearing and hearts' dreams not being acted upon.

The interesting thing about being fascinated online is we are always captivated by other peoples' work and creativity, however inane much of it may be. Sometimes in the midst of reading an article or binge watching YouTube I realize, "I could do better than this stuff!" And so here we are.

If we are going to be fascinated by the work of others, we would do well to plug into what makes us feel the most empowered about ourselves. A conscious online community can create a cascade effect into the real world as well. The more we witness people following their hearts and putting themselves out there online, the more we may be inspired to do the same face to face.

Any student can attest to the double-edged sword of the internet when it comes to writing a paper; for every hour of research and writing there can be two hours of anxiety-filled distraction as the clock ticks down. Our time and attention are some of the most precious resources we have. Indeed, we "pay" attention and "spend" our time.

Money and worldly success can often be the result of attention well paid, and time well spent. If we focus continuously on the goal we want, we can use technology as a tool to aid us. If we spend time cultivating the unique gifts we all have then the internet will begin to flourish with real human potential.

Not to say we can't enjoy some cute cat videos every once in a while as well; it is simply a matter of letting our use of technology represent our own innate intelligence and our deepest intention as human beings.

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About the Creator

Michael Thielmann

I am an addiction and mental health counsellor living in Salmon Arm British Columbia. I love engaging with people about overcoming any challenges in their life and being vulnerable and open about my own process as well. <3

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