Taking a social media pause.

When I was younger, I remember having these large swaths of time in the summer. I’d get lost in a book at home. Or swim in the pool in the backyard. Or even better, float in that pool with said book. sighhh

I had pages upon pages of short stories that I’d spent hours writing on the front porch. I imagined I was clothing designer and had notebooks filled with sketches and drawings. Or I owned a dance school and would make up lessons and dance choreography. All this before I would check the clock and head off to work as a shampoo girl and receptionist at a local salon.

No social media. No scrolling. I didn’t ever get into AOL instant messenger or MySpace. I was terrible at texting when that became a thing.

What I did have?

My imagination. My creativity. A sense of feeling grounded and simultaneously weightless.

I want this for my children - Bodhi (4 and three quarters - he would want me to tell you that) and Uma (six months). I feel myself actually grieving a life that they may not have. A life without TikTok or Twitter or Insta or Facebook or, hell, even LinkedIn. Right now, the only time Bodhi spends with an iPad is listening to the Circle Round story podcast. He doesn’t use screens. He doesn’t play games on our phone at restaurants.

And, yet…he sees us use our phones. He’s curious. Of course he is.

When you see your children seeing you, that changes things doesn’t it?

I’ll be blunt.

I do not feel in alignment with the social media landscape as it is right now. I notice how my mood changes when I’ve exceeded a certain amount of time on any of the apps. I find all of them noisy and more than slightly narcissistic (yes, even the career based ones). I constantly wonder if I’m adding to the noise.

As a small business owner who shifted into the online space in 2019, it’s true - social media helps share the work that I do with a wider audience. Yet, I’m constantly asking myself, “At what cost?”

If you know me, you know I’m clever and silly and definitely sarcastic, but I’m not interested in dancing around and pointing at words for the algorithm. My role as a mother is more important than consistently posting a square for my business.

And, more than anything - I want to stay true to my imagination and the source of inspiration, to keep the channels open to allow the life force to flow through. Social media ensures that I’m “full,” but not necessarily full of the good stuff, the juice, the nectar. You know what I mean?

All this to say is that I don’t have it figured out.

What I do know is that when we’re constantly consuming, there’s no space left for us, for God, for Source, for the Divine. Perhaps we’ve lost our ability to discern what’s real and true for us because we’re always in a space of consuming the words and images of others (this goes beyond the social sphere).

@oscartothekeys

So, for me, I need a break. A breather. By the time you read this letter, I’ll have been on a social media break for seven days. And, it seems so small, right? But, for someone who realizes she DOES have something to say…quite a bit actually…and who DOES have services that contribute to the health of humanity, well, this is a scary thing. To essentially turn off a part of your marketing to preserve what you know is a well running a bit dry.

As a favorite mentor of mine shares, You are are the life force of your business. I’d extend that to your family, too. You are the life force.

Over the last six months, I’ve been in deep spiritual study with one of my teachers, and in early June I’ll start another study. So, this feels like the perfect time to pause. Not to pause my work, but to spend that time where I’d be posting and scrolling in contemplation, in creativity, in creation mode.

To spend more of that time floating in pools and swimming in oceans and building sand castles with my son and introducing my daughter to the sweetness of summer. To meditate. To move on the mat. To step away from the social sphere even just for a little while, knowing that there is a whole life to be lived outside of these tiny computers we hold with one hand and showing (rather than telling) my kids that this is a beautiful way to be. To be. This is a spiritual practice, yes?

Will it get me more followers? Clients? Awareness? Students? Yea, I know it’s probably not the best business strategy. But, I think there’s another way. One that does feel more in alignment. I need to create the space for it. And, if you love reading these words every other week, I hope you’ll help me, too.

I want to embody that feeling of being effortlessly grounded and simultaneously weightless. Don’t you?

I’d love to hear more about your relationship with social media. Does any of this resonate? Send me an email. I’d love to hear from you!

Jai Ma.
With love,

Leanne

P.S. I feel an immense amount of joy when writing these letters to you. So, I do have a request. If you love these letters, will you forward to a friend? I also made something for you (and your friend):

Here’s a free Health Checklist that explores your health in relation to the Kosha model of yoga therapy. Kosha, means layer of our well-being, and this checklist will help you learn more about this model and which of your layers needs the most support.

There are five in total. This can be a conversation starter with your loved ones, friends, care providers, and above all within to support your healing journey.