Facebook has been taking the world by storm since its inception some 10 years ago. Growing exponentially, it has gone from a handful to now, nearly 300 million users worldwide. Granted, not everyone spends equal time on it and thus, the number is far lower, but this still leaves a multitude of millions who spend a great deal of time in front of their computer so they can feel connected to their network, play games, share pictures, thoughts and the like…but at what cost?
I think it important to share that I don’t believe that any one thing is purely negative or evil. I do not want to suggest that Facebook is a bad thing. On the contrary, it offers many who didn’t have a sense of connection, just that. I will say, however, that for many, it has contributed to diminishing eyesight, lack of human connection, eroding language and grammar skills and addictive behaviors such as obsession, compulsion, etc.
It is important for me to share what my relationship is with Facebook. I have been on Facebook for a few years now and admit to, at times, excessive amounts of time on it. What defines excessive, in my mind, is when I put off showering, work, exercise and more to stay on Facebook. I have pulled-back since recognizing this, but I’m still on it for a few hours on days I don’t work. My rationalization is that I have Scrabble games going that I need to get my turns taken as well as that I have friends who aren’t local who I stay in-touch with via Facebook. In truth, like TV, it is a place to find distraction…distraction from a life that may not be as rewarding as I’d like.
Having admitted my addiction, I will say that I don’t harbor any bitterness towards Facebook or its creators. I do not Tweet, do not have other accounts on other social networks and do not do a lot of other things online other than the occasional evening listening to tunes on Pandora or Youtube. What I find intriguing and what inspired this piece is that I notice I have aged a great deal since being on Facebook. Aside from greater exposure to electro-magnetic field disturbance, I am sedentary. The number of hours I am sitting vs. moving around have increased since my fascination with Facebook came about.
My vision has been greatly diminished as my eyes spend so much time looking close-up and not far away so the muscles that focus my eyes for distance have atrophied. I also notice that I am forgetting words, spelling of words I didn’t have problems spelling previously and that I am getting sloppy with capitalization and other grammar rules I had no problem with in the past! I do realize that there are other likely underlying factors involved and that Facebook is not the only issue, here, however, it is also clear to me that extended time in front of a screen is a proven detriment to vision among other things.
Social Media has also contributed to our information overload. This makes us less resistant to stress and its negative effects. Anxiety, depression, digestive issues, sleep issues, and more, have all risen over the age of Social Media, dominated by Facebook, and now, Instagram. We are in a health crisis in an already overloaded and poorly equipped medical system. I say “poorly equipped” in that it is geared to deal with emergency/acute care/infectious disease and has little clue what to do with mental health issues except to send those Patients to Psychotherapists (not able to Rx meds) and Psychiatrists (able to Rx meds). Not to knock these professions, but to separate mind and body is a dangerous approach, in my opinion, as it sends so many into long and inadequate treatment paths which end up leaving many disappointed and untrusting of a system that they feel failed them, or has left them stuck, when a more holistic plan that addresses physical imbalances; nervous system, hormonal, biochemical/nutritive, pathogenic, etc, and in a much shorter period of time, the imbalance has been addressed and Patients feel like themselves, again.
The bottom line here is that we are a culture with poor self control and discipline. We fall prey to addictive behavior, rationalizing, excuse making, laziness, etc. The need to numb, distract, placate, connect; to fill the voids we feel, to fix the wounds we’ve been dealt…if only we could face the fact that we are all wounded, weak, in need of help, struggling, etc. If only we could set ego aside, be honest with ourselves and others and openly admit who we really are. We could pop the bubble of this artificial, superficial World we live in. We could live and let live. We could accept ourselves, respect ourselves, love ourselves, and thus, have room to do the same for others, no matter who they are or what they believe. Utopia? No…we’ll always have struggle because we cannot totally rid ourselves of ego, so we’ll always have to deal with the fallout it brings. The key is keeping it in check and always being able to recognize when we act or react from ego, and then be able to admit when we’re wrong, apologize and ask for forgiveness. Instead, we have dug in and egos have become so out of control that people have decided that truth is a thing we can simply choose to fit our comfort zones. This has led to a divide between individuals, cultures, religions, countries, etc, that we’ve never seen before. We live in a World that has chosen delusion over truth. There may be no coming back from this unless we pop the bubble and admit we know next to nothing and start over. Getting ego-laden adults to do this is extraordinarily difficult, as many of you know having gone through divorce, broken business partnerships, and so on (and just think of how your ego is likely blaming someone else right now instead of thinking how YOU contributed to the problem!)
So, Facebook may not be the only enemy, but it has become a platform for misinformation, manipulation, complaining, judging, as well as sharing positive stories, dreams, support, and so on. It is our responsibility to police ourselves and our kids in how much time we spend focusing on screens, as well as what we bring to the table. Do we share positive, uplifting experiences or are we trying to tear down what we fear or hate? Are you experiencing enough of real connection with others and the World around you? Nature and the elements are healing to us and many are simply not getting enough of them. Sunlight, water, soil, trees, fresh air…they aren’t just for Hippies, so put some thought into what you want for yourself and your family and exercise some strength of will and make positive changes happen. Remember that this is a practice and there will be days where you are weak and simply cave to pressure…it is key to remember to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, smile and take charge of things, again.
Paul Gerst L.Ac. is Co-Owner of The Balanced Path Wellness Center in Medway, MA, and Founder of The Integrated Health Network (IHN). He does a YouTube show called: On Your Natural Health and creates and teaches classes/workshops for Companies and Groups. You may reach Paul at thebalancedpath@gmail.com or 774-283-2726.