Life comes at us full speed ahead. Often from the very moment we wake up we’re getting notifications and alerts taking our attention in countless different directions. And while this can bring a certain level of excitement and adventure to life, it often comes at the cost of no longer being fully present with each other.
To be sure, technology comes with many benefits. We’re able to discover, connect, and organize the tasks of our day with much greater efficiency than previous generations.
For instance, we can learn virtually anything we want to know within just a few clicks, easily stay in touch with family members across the globe, and save time by automating many of our daily tasks.
But now that we can do more in less time, the speed of our life has also picked up. And this often leaves us jumping from one thing to the next with shorter and shorter attention spans. For example, even the shows we watch with constantly changing scenes are generally not enough; we’re still tempted to multitask whatever we’re doing.
And for some this does come with a thrill and sense of accomplishment – a welcomed challenge to keep up with the various demands of life.
But, as with everything, we must count the cost. And just because we can do more doesn’t mean we should. And this becomes all the more true when our speed of life keeps us from being fully present with those we love.
Can we hang out, have a conversation, and even make love while being fully present in that moment and without our minds constantly looking for the next exciting thing to focus on?
There’s not much in our life that cultivates this deep presence. But life starts to lose its meaning and our relationships become increasingly shallow without it.
Enjoy the many bells and whistles of modern life. But don’t forget to practice being fully present with each other as well. Our souls need these moments of deep presence to thrive.
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
