Social Media: Lament #1

No social media judgment here. I only offer a lament, which is a seed for future change.

Social media promotes public busy-ness. The community that we’re connected to has an insatiable appetite for the next thing, event, happening. We embed ourselves in the practices and serve the appetite of that community. The consequence is that a lot of people do a lot of things for the purpose of being seen. (And then regularly check to see if they’ve been seen.)

People like us hunger for lasting value, sincere relationship, and deep work*—not simply to be seen.

But this requires less mindless doing and more focus.
Less production and more thoughtful, nuanced creation.
Fewer plastic things and more deliberate craft.
Less shallow, menial encounters and more ’thick’, challenging experiences.
Less airy entertainment and more demanding, skillful art.
Fewer rote responses and more creative, thoughtful solutions.

This appetite is not satisfied with more willpower. We can’t simply try harder.
Nor do intentions get us there. We can’t wish our way into more concentration and deeper encounters.

People like us that are unwilling to continue in ways like this must build into our schedules uninterrupted, deep, rich, difficult work.
The change begins with your calendar.

*Deep Work by Cal Newport is a great resource.