What I Learned While I Unplugged...

A few weeks back, I took a little hiatus from social media. I just knew that I needed it. I was feeling overwhelmed, sluggish, super anxious and having trouble concentrating. I made the decision to break from all socials and focus more on mindfulness. Oxford defines mindfulness as: a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique. Practicing mindfulness can improve self-control, concentration, emotional intelligence and so much more. All of these are the exact elements that I needed to enhance.

Y'all know me; my first step was prayer. I asked God to clear my mind, to give me clarity and direction, to restore my endurance and energy, and to carry my anxieties for me. I'm pretty sure He heard me because I readily felt okay with giving myself permission to take things slow and simply let things happen as they would. This is hard for me because I like KNOWING how everything is going to unfold at all times...which is impossible; hence, my constant anxiety. This break allowed me to practice giving God control and just rejoicing in each present moment. I needed to free myself from distraction so I could be still and seek the peace of God.

My next step was to take action on what I prayed for. I need clarity and direction, so I started therapy, and I read a book called The Ultimate Happiness Prescription by Deepak Chopra. The book was so good that I finished it in two days. It was packed with gems, facts, and relatable anecdotes. You can purchase it, here on my Amazon Reading List! Upon reading it, I felt a bit enlightened! I was reminded that you can rewire your thoughts and reset yourself to a positive disposition. I even did a little research on neuroplasticity: the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. Training your brain is a real thing, y'all! All of this reading and research also reminded me that everything flows from the inside: from my heart, from my gut, from my thoughts...so I needed to take control of my internal health in every facet. Therapy step number one. Diet and exercise would be step number two. Again, back to reading and research, and I decided on the WHOLE30 diet. WHOLE30 requires you to cut out gluten/grains, added sugars, dairy, legumes, and alcohol. So yes, it's very restrictive and difficult to adhere. Personally, my goal is not to lose weight, but to improve my digestive health, hormonal issues, and increase energy. Honestly, between mindfulness and WHOLE30, I'm hoping to see a natural spike in my personal discipline as well. I'm proud of myself for detoxing in more ways than one!

Another notion that serendipitously fell into my unplugged period is the Danish lifestyle concept of hygge (pronounced: hoo-gah). Hygge is a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture). While I fasted from socials where I'm heavily interactive, I did allow myself to use Pinterest as a creative outlet. I came across so many mood boards for hygge, and I was obsessed! From what I've read, this concept emphasizes the mindfully indulgent lifestyle. It promotes finding contentment in minimalism, while also being a vibe that's aesthetic, cozy, warm, and comforting. I have never felt more seen! I made myself a Pinterest board dedicated to hygge and I plan to implement this into my lifestyle as much as I can! Look into it! You'll love it! Check out my board, here!

One of my most prominent unplugged epiphanies occurred while reading my Bible. There was a passage stating that God's ways are always secure. And for some reason, insecurity has been eating me alive, so that jumped out to me. I realized that "insecurity" literally begins with the letter "I". So, the insecurities must be rooted in me. Everything that bothers me about myself are products of my own self inflicted pressure, judgement, and truthfully...comparison. To defeat this, I need to shift my focus to someone other than myself. I need to practice compassion, be empathic and benevolent; not just because these are traits to be proud of, but because this will cause me to be the person that I truly aspire to be and I'll have far less time to worry about myself! My life is not about my own glory.

In an age where social media is king, don't be afraid to detox, even if just for short periods. Social media detachment has been known to improve self esteem, reduce anxiety, decrease FOMO, and improve time management. Give yourself time to be still. Stay connected to your core self. There is always more to learn and explore about your own beautiful soul. When you seek knowledge, you find it every time. So, silence is golden...lean into it. Savor it. Find peace in it. Be happy. Be kind.