I invite you to join me for an esoteric contemplation. In a quiet moment, deep within your soul, open to cosmic insight, find your center and ask yourself:

Why did I pick up my phone?

😁

Seriously, I have been getting tremendous insight from this practice. On one level, I find I can be lazy in the continuity of my attention. Upon opening my phone, I can lose consciousness and forget the original purpose for picking it up. In these times I will often repeat mentally the task I am intending to complete to keep me focused, strengthen my mind, and not devolve into habitual text checking or other unconscious patterns.

On another level, I have been inquiring to the underlying emotion that may compel me to engage with my phone. Am I feeling lonely, bored, or needing a mental break? And is spending time on my phone going to meet this deeper need?

I have been enjoying Josh’s insight from the Dharma Punx NYC podcast that texting and visual phone engagement are left brain activities, cut off from the holistic, creative, emotional, and intuitive part of us in the right brain. A real-time phone call or in-person interaction will be what ultimately makes me feel connected and satisfy these deeper needs. This also includes being outside and engaging with the natural world.

So the next time you drift to your phone, please join me in this esoteric contemplation. I would love to hear the insights you find!