Reflections on Modern Life and Our Disconnection from Our Inner Selves

Introduction

Can you recall the last time you sat peacefully, utterly absorbed in your thoughts and feelings, devoid of any digital distractions?

Our contemporary lifestyles frequently entangle us in a web of stress and restlessness. The overwhelming volume of data and the ceaseless influx of information we must grapple with daily, driven by information technology and our usage of it (conscious or not), has had a profound impact on me. It has shifted my self-perception to such an extent that I can assert it has fundamentally transformed my entire being.

A journey on regaining control

Over recent months and years, I embarked on a journey to regain control — an endeavor that proved neither simple nor straightforward. This process demands continuous vigilance and daily adaptations of deeply ingrained habits, all while nurturing the resilience to treat myself with the kindness we typically extend to our dearest friends. It's often easier to perceive others' struggles and feel an impulse to share advice while avoiding our personal issues. Genuine aid often commences with directing lucid attention to our own being.

Information technology — or perhaps our inappropriate use of it — often discourages individuals from engaging fully with their immediate experiences, both internally and externally. This disengagement traps us in a cycle of rumination and anxiety. We struggle with modulating the significance of particular thoughts or emotions as we seldom afford time to process them adequately. We "fast-feel" and "left-swipe" emotions, perpetually seeking an unattainable ideal. As we strive to fill the void, we unknowingly consign ourselves to remain as half-empty vessels, aided by a powerful, well-oiled machinery of information and digital distractions.

Genuine desires over information overload

In time, I fear we may lose the ability to distinguish our genuine desires from those imposed upon us. We grow so accustomed to the relentless barrage of information that we cease to question its validity or impact on our lives. For some, this might be a conscious choice, but for many, it is a subconscious process leading to a perpetual and readily available escape from our discomforts. After a relentless mental flight, we are left with a sense of emptiness and a lack of fulfillment.

One fine day, we lament our tasteless existence, pondering the 'why' and 'how'. An anxiety-inducing environment erodes our perspective, leaving us adrift, uncertain of who we are, why we rise each morning, or what unique insights or creativity we could contribute to the world by merely being ourselves and pursuing our passions. We become alienated from ourselves, viewing our lives through a prism of grayness that shades most of our experiences. When we encounter each other and ask, "Hey, how are you doing?", we automatically answer with a smile and a depthless, "I'm fine, thanks." A fleeting moment might follow, a vacuum of thoughts, where we grapple with our inability to genuinely answer the simple question: "How am I, truly?". I find it paradoxically revealing that the absence of a response in this context may be the most telling observation of all.

Conclusion

This lack of discernment results in prolonged periods of heightened stress and anxiety — so extended that we struggle to remember who we were before this transformation. I wonder how the generation born into this world will navigate these challenges, although I remain confident they will find a way. That being said, I firmly believe that we — the generation that experienced the world before the age of constant connectivity and 24/7 portable devices — bear a responsibility to process these changes and share our insights with the forthcoming generations. Perhaps they will find something of value in our experiences.

Further readings

If these words have resonated with you, you might be interested in delving deeper into my other writings. I recommend exploring the following articles:

• Reinventing the Charleroi Reddit Community (hashnode.dev)

• My Take on Self-Care and Its Impact on Complimenting (hashnode.dev)

Feel free to check out these articles, as they might pique your curiosity as well.