The Problem Isn’t TikTok
I think we fall into a fallacy when we conclude that we live without faith. Simply because the vast majority of us live in the belief, or conviction, that we will be alive tomorrow. That it is worthwhile and advisable to set goals. It is also an act of faith to buy a gift, reserve that dress or suit for a special event, save someone’s phone number, and so on. Some might dare to separate this reality from spiritual life. They are wrong, but it aligns with something deeper: a total disconnection from who they truly are.
It is traditional that, near the end of the year, a sense of unease or melancholy spreads across the media because the year has passed way too quickly. Younger people often point to social media as the main culprit, without realizing that it might have more to do with themselves. If TikTok were gone tomorrow, they would have to face the same withdrawal they struggle to accept now.
Since I began my spiritual exploration in the summer, I have experienced a particular feeling of time accelerating, yet at the same time I do not feel it slipping through my fingers. Rather, I am aware of the passage of time and find myself awake, eager to create and act taking advantage of it. Do not take “eager” as synonymous with anxious or impatient. On the contrary, I now have enough mental peace and patience to work on matters that once intimidated me so much they left me paralyzed. And although I am still working on it, I see long-term projects and delayed gratification as possible.
Little by little, almost like a natural transition, after stating my purpose and acting as much as I could, I have managed to lose interest in my old coping tools. The addiction I had tried to fight now seems almost surrender to me. It is not enough, it has lost its appeal. It is simply a bland source of dopamine. And it does not represent any effort, nor do I have to summon willpower to set aside what I once desired.
But do you notice the nuance? The change began from within me and from awareness. It was not because triggers disappeared, nor because I imposed strict barriers. No, it was a substantial change that appealed to my identity and to purposes slightly beyond the ego, thanks to this spirituality I have been speaking of.
I have not finished my path yet. Doubt, feelings of inferiority, fear of making wrong choices, and so on are still there, but as tools rather than obstacles, helping me refine how I act, my values, and my morality. So do not take this as a post of triumph, but, again, as an invitation to think carefully, slowly, and intentionally on a regular basis. The benefits of doing so, which can be cultivated wherever you go, are countless.