A spiritual process involves realizing that one's actions are causing additional pain and working to correct them.
I think the issue we're talking about here has its roots in a spiritual issue. I don't advocate turning back the clock on technological advancement and going back to the "good old" days of foraging and hunting. While giving up my iPhone as a distraction does sound wonderful.
We need to change the way we think about technology. Technology that promotes human welfare must be given top priority.
This necessitates a thorough and sincere examination of our behavioral tendencies. Are we making progress? Is it causing more or less pain in the world? Admitting one has a problem is the first step towards recovery from addiction.
A spiritual process involves realizing that one's actions are causing additional pain and working to correct them. It necessitates accepting accountability for oneself. Radical self-acceptance and self-compassion are required. The amount of time "lost" indulging in the detrimental habit makes one feel sad. It calls for trust in the ambiguous since we aren't always sure what the future holds. It takes guts to go into that unknown.
This is how everyone of us develops personally. That is also, in my opinion, how society as a whole evolves.
If we want to pursue a better future, we must take a moment to consider where we are and where we want to go. This is known as a holy pause.
While the rise of mankind is served by the current paradigm of scientific and technical advancement, our souls may not necessarily benefit. We need to make alternative assumptions and ask different questions in order to break the spell.
Could the increased use of technology make us feel "busier" than ever?
Could the development of technology make us more dependent on worry and anxiety?
Would we be less tolerant of agony when mental and physical ailments are "fixed," causing us to suffer much more? What purpose would life serve if we are no longer afraid of dying?
Seeing someone in pain is difficult. We could sympathize with them or share in their grief, and we might be concerned that we won't know what to say or do. In those awkward moments, we can feel compelled to look away from their suffering in order to protect our own wellbeing or to go on with our lives.
It is essential to our lives and to the success of our society that we are able to empathize with others, to feel as they do, to care about their well-being, and to act with compassion.
