I wrote this for the awesomely cool, School of Life in the UK (http://www.theschooloflife.com), where I did a talk earlier this year. It’s about the affect all this technology is having on our head spaces… well mine anyway and how meditation can be a good antidote to this signature of modern life.
I thought going into Xmas and the New Year that perhaps it’s a good time to consider our relationships with technology. I for one could probably do with bit of a detox.
Merry Xmas and Happy New Year! Mj
GADGET BRAIN
Sometimes I feel like bit of a walking contradiction. For example I have just published a book called Quiet the Mind – an illustrated guide on how to meditate.
Meditation is something I’ve been practicing for over 20 years, it’s an important and intergril part of my life.
I’ve also just launched a new website which is a platform for my books and talks.
In the life of a modern day author and communicator you have to embrace all aspects of technology to get what you do out there.
So to support my website I have taken up the various aspects of social media; Facebook, Twitter, Linkdin, Youtube and I’m trying to locate my blogging bone. I’m slowly getting my head around these new forms of technology but in truth I feel like the old guy at the night club trying to look like he belongs.
I am a self confessed Apple junky, I have 2 Power Books, an iMac, an iPad, my wife and I have an iphone each, we have Apple TV, the only thing Microsoft is the Xbox 360. Technology has become such a massive part of my life, everything I do is based around it. It’s mind bending-ly brilliant stuff but I swear that it is slowly eroding my ability to concentrate for any length of time.
I flit around programs, apps and devices like a mozzie does a swamp. Never settling for long, never satisfied to stay and take in the view. I have six books beside my bed, all semi read and all semi dusty – I do use one occasionally to prop up my iPad which is a bit iSad.
I’m sure I’m not alone in this but I truly believe that for many of use we’re becoming so connected that we’re becoming disconnected. How often do you go for coffee or lunch and everyone put’s phones on the table – just incase they miss something when infact what they’re missing is simply being ‘in the room’.
Thankfully I have my meditation practice which is a fantastic counter balance to my life as a highly caffeinated small dog. Heaven knows what I’d be like without it. Meditation for me is like cleaning the windows, I have more clarity, my hectic life becomes far more manageable, my moods are better and most importantly I am more ‘in the room’.
I suppose the crux of this blurb is that bloody annoying word ‘balance’.
In life all we seem to to do is strive for it – we get it, we lose it, we get back again and so forth.
If your life is chocolate dipped in technology ask yourself how you might get a little bit of balance? Is the amount of technology and connectedness in your life giving you static?
My lovely wife once dropped my iPhone in a cup of tea. I explained it was an iPhone and not a biscuit. After my initial panic I quickly realised until I got it replaced, I was off the grid and for 5 days I was just that. Bliss! Which brings me to a poster I once saw which read ‘Life was simpler when Apples and Blackberries were just fruit. ‘
Omwards and Upwards
