Look up at your life

or the past few months I’ve been battling anxiety. I’m finding balance again and in order to do so I’ve had to take a break from everything and determine the cause of my dis-ease.

My life is the life I’ve always wanted—two healthy beautiful children, a loving partner, supportive family and friends and a job I’m passionate about.

So why did I feel so disturbed and distracted?

A couple of months ago, I found my answer during a weekend away with no cell reception. I noticed a shift in my well being immediately. Disconnecting from my phone and the internet reconnected me with myself.

It was clear that cyberspace and my incessant need to keep up with it was destroying me.

Last year I wrote an article about the illusion of Facebook and social media, however I got lost in it again and I stopped taking my own advice—what I see online is not reality, it is a distortion, a marketing tool for individuals to create an image they want others to believe in.

Time and time again, I allow myself to be fooled, tricked by the pictures and posts of electronic friends. I walk away from my laptop or phone feeling defeated, small and insignificant. I started to believe my life wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t doing enough. I wasn’t enough.

After my weekend away, I made a decision to disconnect as much as I could without compromising my career. I stopped answering text messages the moment they arrived on my phone. I began leaving my phone in the kitchen from early evening until the morning. I stopped looking at Facebook except to answer messages every few days. I stopped feeding into the frenzy and as soon as I did, I felt the same way I did when I was on vacation.

Not only do I feel healthier mentally, physically and emotionally, but I am making decisions mindfully again. I’m appreciating my surroundings and the people in front of me.

Most of all, I’m living my life without the need to prove anything or compete with anyone else. My life is perfect as it is and I refuse to miss another moment of it because I was looking down at a device that can’t show love, support or hug me back.

I urge you to watch this video and maybe for an hour or a day or a week, disconnect and look up at the world, it’s looking right back waiting to connect with you.