A Virtual Life

The majority of our lives these days are spent in virtual relationships. There are many advantages to our new ways of doing business, meeting people, getting new news, making “friends” across the world, and seeking information. But there’s tremendous downside too. Worrisome downside. We are less intimate, more superficial, and ever more driven to compare and despair. It shows up everywhere. The following stats show how powerful our virtual communication life is getting:

• There are 1.96 Billion daily viewers on platforms including Facebook; WhatsApp; Instagram and messenger. 
• TikTok only launched in 2018 and already grabs 1 million daily views.
• Hentai is the newest porn excitement. It uses cartoons, anime, or Manga format, and is one of the most popular kinds of porn for Millennials, young adults, and children.

I want to climb to the top of the tallest building and scream with superpower lungs: WE ARE LOSING OUR HUMANITY!!  Am I overreacting? Naw. It’s a big, big deal. We look at FB and decide we’re not rich enough, good-looking enough or successful enough (how many likes do we have?) . Everybody looks so damn good and so damn happy on FB, instagram and TikTok. I keep reminding people: A facebook life is not a real life. 

By the by…I see the irony of my complaining since you are only hearing me because you met me on a virtual platform. Yeah, as I said, that’s the good part. Still, our obsessive excessive involvement with social media is sure to drain the life out of us sooner than later.

How can we fix this? Many are trying. Teaching mindfulness as well as authentic intimacy ways. But as always, it’s up to you. 

• Limit your Social Media interactions. 
• Don’t assume just because it’s on the internet or any other device, it’s true.  
• Take what you learn that’s helpful and practice it in real life. 
• See friends in person.
• Speak of your feelings and concerns even when it’s embarrassing.
• Nurture yourself through person-to-person love.

When trying any new behavior (limiting screen time for instance) it’s helpful to note what happens for you inside. Do you get scared; feel empty; feel relieved or…? What do you do about that? Do you investigate whey you’re scared or try to ignore the feeling or eat to push it away or…? Do you seek something to fill the emptiness or sit with it? When honoring your own decision do you celebrate your victory? Clearly, our responses to whatever is happening is the point. 

Every day we have the opportunity to lay the foundation for a better tomorrow.  How will you attend to your foundation today?