Is This One Big Thing Blocking your Intuition?
How long after you open your eyes in the morning, before you’re hit with tech distractions from notifications, emails, texts, voicemails, “likes”, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube videos, news, stocks, etc., which then continue all day long? It seems as though nearly every aspect of our life is centered around technology. Think about it, when was the last time you went more than a few minutes without checking your email, text messages or mindlessly scrolling through social media? How long has it been since you spent an entire Saturday curled up with a good book, working with your hands, or enjoying the day outdoors, instead of binge-watching the latest release on Netflix, while simultaneously checking your email, texts or notifications?
How long has it been since you went tech-free?
Well, if you’re reading this article right now, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that it’s been a little while. And look, it’s not your fault. In a world where information is so readily available, and we are more connected than ever before, it’s hard to imagine life without our trusty smart phones, tablets, laptops, smart watches, smart TV’s, and whatever other gadgets just hit the market.
Ditching our devices is also easier said than done for many of us who rely on these new forms of communication to earn a living, keep tabs on our kids, and even order groceries. But there comes a time when we have to start asking ourselves:
…at what cost?
TECHNOLOGY DISCONNECTS YOU FROM YOURSELF
Have you ever stopped to think about what you may be missing out on thanks to all of that added screen time? Put simply: a lot. With all the tech distractions, our ability to focus and calm our minds is becoming harder and harder. We are so tuned in to everything and everyone around us and so disconnected with ourselves. For every hour that we spend in the artificial world of technology, the more we depend on the world outside ourselves to tell us how to think and live, causing us to grow more and more distant from our truest selves, from our source.
At our core, we are natural beings. Natural beings that belong in nature. There is a reason that we feel our most relaxed when we’re sitting by the beach, camping in the wilderness, or going for a stroll in our local park; we are back in our most natural state, surrounded by fresh air and grass and dirt and life and removed from all the tech distractions.
When we surround ourselves with the beauty and wonder of nature, we also tap into our most natural sense of divine knowing: our intuition. If you’re a little foggy about what exactly your intuition is (and where on Earth it’s coming from), it is that little voice deep in the back of your head that just, well, knows. That voice that has the ability to guide us on a path of peace, harmony, and truth…if our minds are calm and we listen.
“There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.”
— RUMI
When we are overly consumed by our devices, it is incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to listen to our intuition. These artificial worlds of false connectivity leave us distracted, abandoned behind a screen, and seldom feeling truly gratified. Think about it, how many times have you felt physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained after staring at a computer screen all day? That’s because during these times of technological overload we are distracted, completely detached from our intuition – our source of absolute and divine knowing – and when that happens…we can never truly feel peace.
“Intuition is the whisper of the soul.”
— JIDDU KRISHNAMURTI
CREATING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES WITH TECHNOLOGY
The solution? A bit of distance. Look, I’m not saying that you should denounce your possessions and build an off-the-grid cabin the woods, but we can all benefit from a bit less time with our devices. Need a few concrete examples? Give these a whirl:
Go for a walk! Yes, outside! Leave your phone at home and enjoy the beauty of being entirely present in nature without the need to document it all on social media.
Create a no phone policy in the evenings. For example, from 7pm until bedtime, keep your phone charging in another room. This will allow you to be more fully present with the people and activities you are pursuing and eliminates the temptation to check your notifications every 10 minutes!
Find an outdoor activity that you love and make time to enjoy it! Whether it’s hiking, biking, swimming, walking the dog, or just going for a stroll around the neighborhood, find an outdoor activity that makes your heart sing and then schedule it in your calendar the same way you’d schedule a dental cleaning or an oil change. Treat this self-care time with the same respect you’d give to any other commitment and trust me, your intuition will be easier to recognize in no time!
Need a hand getting started? An intuitive energy clearing session is a wonderful way to clear out negative energetic blocks and tap into your innate sense of self!