I know this if going to sound bananas… but about six years ago I remember reading something on my phone and it felt like energy was being extracted from my forehead. It felt like a syphon of life force was being pulled from my mind.
Doesn’t this sound nuts?
At the time I dismissed it.
I thought, “That isn’t a real thing. It must be how the light from the phone is interacting with my optic nerve.”
I used logic to try to alleviate the anxiety I had — anxiety that felt more etheric in nature.
I was recently reading this great article on Unplugged.com — and maybe this is what I was feeling — cause DAMN:
“The mere presence of the device impacts your cognitive function. Positioning your phone by your laptop or on the table whilst working impairs learning, memory and lowers brain performance. Research showed that participants who had their smartphones on the desk, even face-down, performed the worst in a memory and problem solving test, compared to those who left their devices in another room.
It’s not just what you remember, but how you process information. A 2021 study showed that face-down phones diminished participants’ cognitive control, making them more susceptible to distractions and impulsive choices. So, that “just one quick peek” can easily derail your train of thought, impacting your productivity and decision-making.
The presence of a phone also impacts the quality of social interaction. One study found that having your phone on the table during a conversation decreases the enjoyment of a conversation. You don’t even need to check it. Just placing your phone on the table shows you’re not fully engaged, suggesting to the other person that something on your phone might be more important than the conversation. This non-verbal cue can dilute the quality of our interactions, making conversations shallower and less satisfying.”
I was thinking about this… how our psyches are being pulled to a world that exists outside of the world we’re in. Our bodies are designed to be in REAL LIFE with each other. Our nervous systems need to co-regulate in the same physical space as others. Does this mean we can’t online, in community? Of course not… BUT, we also need to get in person. We need other people.
And we need to be mindful of how phones are impacting our relationships… and also our cognitive function.
A recent phenomenon since the massive adoption of smart phones, is Digital Dementia. Essentially, our brain starts to produce similar symptoms to what we call dementia — and this might include:
- Decreased attention span
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Memory problems
Ummmmmm. Anyone? 🙋🏻♂️
To capture your attention without your explicit consent is extraction. It’s exploitive. And while you may be the one being exploited, I can promise you no smartphone company or social media app is about to save you from their addictive practices… YOU HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.
We need to nourish our minds and take breaks from our phones. Find a special place in the house to set them so you can connect. Agree to leave them home if you go on a date. Get a simple phone like the new Lightphone 3. Take back your mind, and also your heart.
I look back now at that memory of my third eye 👁️ being extracted from and I can see my body was trying to warn me… I was reading something triggering and frustrating about politics at the time. I needed to know MORE. I was craving the hit to dive deeper and get more frustrated.
My body, as is yours, is brilliant. It wants us to be free… to be liberated from the hooks that hold us back.
I hope this email invites you to explore where you need to create space and strategies so as to decide where your attention flows.
Because as they say, “When your attention goes energy flows.”
Shift your attention to connection.
Much love,
Mark
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