One fine midnight, I deactivated my Facebook account. For curiosity, fun and solitude. Just like that - it is curiosity that initially made me do it and then my need for absolute solitude. To be honest, it was like getting a slice of heaven.
Let me explain a bit more about curiosity and solitude if you have time to listen.
Curiosity to know if any friend on Facebook would note that I am not there anymore. Solitude and the need to meditate, to listen and reconnect with myself.
Five Lessons on Life after Facebook
3. Three were top publishing professionals from the book publishing industry and 8 were friends from law college.
4. Friends that I am close with in real life barely noticed. When I told them I deactivated, the responses were like, "Good, finally! You needed to get out of Facebook. You were practically living there." Now, why didn't they tell me that before huh?
5. NOW this one is really important: I began to feel tremendous POSITIVE energy and had more time to LISTEN WITH LOVE & HAPPINESS to each and every person around me after I totally deactivated from Facebook.
I mean, really listen with love.
Heart to heart, eye to eye. Think about it. When is the last time you had a heart to heart conversation with any person, when you listened to every single word that was being conveyed to you?
You've got to figure it out before life passes by in a flash. It's the real conversations that matter. Period.
Through all this, this most important learning for me has been this: Step out of your comfort zone. Don't stay where you are stagnant. Do something that makes life feel happier, simpler and doubly beautiful for you.
I can't help quoting my favorite Mr. Rochester here. He tells Jane in Charlotte Bronte's immortal classic Jane Eyre:
“Because," he said, "I sometimes have a queer feeling with regard to you--especially when you are near me, as now: it is as if I had a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly and inextricably knotted to a similar string situated in the corresponding quarter of your little frame. And if that boisterous channel, and two hundred miles or so of land come broad between us, I am afraid that cord of communion will be snapt; and then I've a nervous notion I should take to bleeding inwardly. As for you,--you'd forget me.”
And remember this: The people who TRULY care about you will always find a way to reach you no matter how busy or far they are. You fear they will forget. They won't. They could be continents apart but if they care, they will find a way beyond Facebook. Trust in the power of the Universe to bring them to you exactly when you need them most. They will be there for you.
♥♥ I thank you with all my heart for reading my post. I dedicate this post with love and gratitude to all those who are finding their own ways to make life easier, happier and better for themselves and for the others around them. REQUEST: Please SHARE this article on your favorite social networks. Every share, like or tweet makes me reach out to more people who are in various phases of finding their own happiness in life. I am grateful and I appreciate you for doing so. ♥♥
♥♥ I thank you with all my heart for reading my post. I dedicate this post with love and gratitude to all those who are finding their own ways to make life easier, happier and better for themselves and for the others around them. REQUEST: Please SHARE this article on your favorite social networks. Every share, like or tweet makes me reach out to more people who are in various phases of finding their own happiness in life. I am grateful and I appreciate you for doing so. ♥♥
Comments
I like this look of your blog! :)
Good experimentation...wonder if you will look at the Facebook world differently when you go back...another social media friend did the same and found more time on his hands and also improved productivity.
I started facebook late and have got hooked on it haha. I find that I'm able to keep in touch with friends and family around the world. i have been guilty of asking people who ask me, "how are you" - have you checked out my facebook page lol. So, I update almost everything I'm doing there including trips and photos, etc.
Also, I keep facebook positive by using their options like hiding negative posts, dismissing negative people from my feed and following more positive and inspirational people. I've found facebook as a source of inspiration and positivity. The negatives for me are time wasted and it being a distraction.
I have at times thought of getting off facebook but reconsidered. I am glad to see you on Twitter though and i hope i don't see a similar post on this subject about your twitter departure:)
@Vinaya: Good for you, Vinaya! Nothing can be a substitute for real life, real happiness. No, I don't think I will look at the Facebook world or my Facebook friends differently. I feel different and rejuvenated, so that's the best experience for me to take away from this and also to move forward with.
@Melange: Nice to read your thoughts on this. I know what you mean because a lot of people I spoke echoed the same sentiment as you while trying to convince others. Would be thrilled if you do add me on Fb...once i am back:)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. Like you stated, I too started Facebook late but I saw it as a great way to stay in touch with friends, cousins and relatives.
I like your tips here where you talk about how you keep Facebook a positive experience for yourself.
Personally, I've found Twitter to be a more inspiring source of positive energy because I feel that people are more true to themselves on Twitter and they aren't portraying picture perfect lives there but of course, I may be talking about this from my point of view.
For instance, I have been able to connect and make friends with some amazing bloggers like you through Twitter, not Facebook. It's been that way throughout the last ten years. But that is not to say that Facebook hasn't been positive.
Some of my best career developments and milestones happened through my contacts on Facebook. It also enables me to be personally and directly in touch with top publishing professionals, authors, that sort of thing. I get insights about their lives that I wouldn't on Twitter.
I see both Facebook and Twitter as integral to my growth as a writer and a social media enthusiast but I needed a break - which means when I feel the time is ripe, I will make a comeback on Facebook:)
The negatives you mentioned are true in a sense. I found that I am able to spend more time with my son doing productive things like story telling, reading and so on after I logged out of Facebook. Once we are logged in, we forget to track time.
Hahaa, on a lighter note, I don't think you will see me leaving Twitter even for a short break:)
@Anonymous: There's nothing wrong about being on Facebook. I like your point - that we should be able to limit the time and effort we spend there. That is exactly what I plan to do when I get back on to Facebook - whenever that is. Thanks for sharing your views here.
@Avada: That's awesome! You have already mastered time management on Facebook then and I haven't done that consciously but whenever I get back on Facebook, I will. So, it is good to know from you that yes, it is possible:)
i want to and will be in touch!
So if someone can't find happiness in other's success, they feel depressed.
Thus the only way is stop being envious, smile from heart.