The Choice is Ours
'Akashic Stargate' By Jennifer Hawkyard
It feels appropriate to share the ‘Akashic Stargate’ artwork to open this blog post. Since leaving Meta related products (Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp), I’ve become very aware of the choices that are available to all of us. We can at any moment choose to step through any number of starry portals. Some offer us great reward, others are filled with distractions and controlling mechanisms.
It’s been a week since I left Meta
And let me tell you it was not particularly easy extracting myself. I’m still working on closing down the last remaining Whatsapp groups / contacts and remembering that hey! we can still text! We can still email! Heck we can even write letters! There’s not a reluctance on my part, more of a guiding principle of never wanting to force the hand of others. I’m going this way - but I’m not forcing my friends or family to follow me. I’ve been delighted however, by how many people have said - Sure! I’ll join you on Signal (a not for profit messaging platform), or even more excitingly saying that my message has prompted them also to quit the toxic platforms that no longer serve them.
What I’ve noticed:
It was very easy to quit Facebook and Instagram. I was already very self-aware of what these apps were doing to me and my mental health and how they were eating my time - I was guilty of a before-bed scroll, sometimes falling down the rabbit hole for a good hour before hauling myself to bed.
I’m finding I now have:
More headspace
I dont find my focus so fractured or piecemeal. In just a week I’m finding that if I’m feeling restless (and may have in the past reached for my phone) I’m really thinking about what I want, asking what my body wants, or my mind and listening to that. It means I’m taking power naps, meditating more, or rediscovering my love of dance in the evenings or playing musical instruments.
More time
Of course! The obvious one! But we don’t really realise how much these apps are designed to consume our time! If you want a shocking breakdown to snap you out of the hypnosis - then watch this video below. It lays bare the realities of time spent in our lives.
As for how it’s affected my business…
This is a big unknown so far, but I gained some courage and inspiration by listening to another YouTube video about a group of creators who decided to step away from social media for a year and they had a massive following. In watching it I felt bolstered in my decision. You can watch it here:
I also find myself practicing what I preach. Actively seeking out newsletters for people I want to follow and not be beholden to some algorithm to ensure that they reach me. The email newsletter is the BEST way to stay in touch with people and if you’re a creative who is hesitating keeping in touch this way, please consider starting a regular newsletter practice to keep in touch with your peeps!
In this set of posts that I shall categorise as “The Meta Movement” - I do not wish you to feel pressured or shamed into following suit and leaving Meta related products (and yes that means Whatsapp too, I’m simply sharing where I’m at and why I’m doing it.
I look forward to sharing this journey with you! Feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments below.
