instagram fast - social media detox

 

Just a little Mid-August check in:

Hey hey guys -- it's been a hot minute since I've been on this platform! But, wanted to check in and say "HELLO," and that I am well.  This month, the month of August, I've decided to take a break from Instagram and slowly starting to ease my way into a social media / technology detox.  

This has been something that's been heavy on my heart, and something I have been battling with for MONTHS - and I thought August, my birthday month, would be the best time to do it.  Honestly, I told myself that I would take a month break from instagram... but as the month is flying by, I may extend my time longer... and who knows, I may do the same with my facebook also! 

(Side story: I grew up not really into television shows or movies (unless it was VeggieTales and Kids Bible Worship songs - MY JAMSSSSSS haha), and electronics. I received my first official phone in my late middle/high school years (barely used it), didn't really utilize social media until mid-college, and kinda was against technology (did not want a TV in my future home) for the longest time! haha.  

My parents raised us up on fellowship and serving others, long walks on hiking trails, chasing waterfalls, camping, exploring, song singing, playing outside, arts and crafts, decorating spaces, baking, dancing, playing with my family and with toys, playing sports, and finding joy in being outdoors and with each other - the simplicity of life. And I miss it!  I want to live a life that is geared towards intentionality, simplicity, and truly enjoying the life that God has given me, just like how my parents did for me.)

So, why take a social media break?

For one, mindset.  I love that social media and technology allows for us to connect with others, be creative, and share our lives.  However, I started finding instagram to be very heavy on my heart.  I found myself going down a comparative, competitive, insecure, and unhealthy mindset.  I started having feelings of jealousy, bitterness, anger, loneliness, stress, anxiousness, and feeling negative about myself all of the time.  I felt as if I had to constantly "please" others, "impress" those who followed me, wanted people to like me, and started to compare myself to others' successes and lives.  I found myself in a constant battle of buying more stuff to "fit in" and to "stay in trend," but then minimalizing and decluttering because that's the "in" thing too, and y'all, it was a struggle of reflecting, refocusing, and realizing that this is not the life that I wanted to live. 

Secondly, time.  I started noticing so much of my time being spent posting, commenting, editing photos, working on stories, editing stories, mindlessly scrolling to see what others are up to and what they are doing, etc.  The time cycle on social media was endless.  I would find myself waking up and scrolling through social media.  I would find myself during the day scrolling through social media.  I would find myself ending the evening by laying down and scrolling through social media.  And every Sunday morning, I would get a screen report that my time on my phone has increased.. and it would be a kick in my gut every time. So much of my precious time has been wasted on social media! Is this the kind of life I wanted to live? 

Thirdly, my family.  My mom. My dad. My sweet sweet husband. My dearest daughter. My sisters. My one and only brother. My grandma. My cousins. My aunts, my uncles. My closest friends.  Was I living a life being swept away by social media and technology that I missed minutes per minutes, hours by hours, and days by days of precious memories, belly-laughing moments, adventure, and being vulnerable in lifting one another up in prayer and encouragements, through hard tear-falling times, and in joyous-hallelujah-rejoicing celebrations?  Let this time be a reset for my life, and my relationships with those who surround me.  To meet people where they are, to allow the Lord to use me, to change me, to fill me, to strengthen me, to mold me, to transform me, to lift my eyes to Him, to refocus my heart to His truth, to align my life to His promises, and to love on His people. 

Lastly, my faith.  I am embarrassed to say that I let society, and my social media platforms, and my little "successes" take hold of my heart and my mind (but hey, it's part of my testimony + God's redemptive plan for me). I worked so hard to find community.  I worked so hard for others to like me.  I worked so hard in trying to "beat" others, and to "fit" in.  But no more. No more.  My value, my worth, my heart, my mind, my time is to my family, is to my God.  

I read an article written by a friend of mine, talking about success. He says, "What is success? Imagine just killing life, fulfilling all your goals, and accomplishing your dreams to only meet the end with none of it really mattering when it comes to salvation and to knowing God. Imagine being debt free, living on a lake house, driving nice cars, and checking off all your bucket list to only find that in judgement seat you're still eternally bound in sin and your life was wasted in succeeding in things that didn't matter at all concerning eternity... I'm not successful because I'm doing what I set out to do, but I'm successful only because I do my best to be in His will and stay faithful and obedient to the many or the few I have been given."

Boy did these words break me - Am I living a life that I seek God in all I do? May the life that I live be in obedience, and according to the will of God. May He increase, may I decrease. May my eyes be fixed on heavenly things. Fall afresh on me, Lord!

...

And with all this said, to make a long story short, I did not like how social media and technology was taking up so much of my time, distracting me from my family, my faith, and my life, and playing a negative role on my mental health. I want my life to cultivate intentionality and simplicity. To enjoy life with my loved ones. A life that is fun, magical, and full of memories. A life that reflects Christ, models for my children how to live, and compliments my husband in his dreams, goals, and passions. Time to spend with my family to play games, to explore nature, to do the things that have been on our bucket lists, to learn a new skills/hobbies, to be present. 

As I mentioned in the beginning, this has been something on my heart for the longest of times. It wasn't until April when I felt confirmation from God that this is something that I must, needed, and wanted to do:

1) The instagram break of one of my "inspiration" mamas: She says, "My fear is that many of you feel the same way and you won’t do anything about it.

Instead, you will continue feeling that jealousy, that competition, that bitterness, that hatred and you won’t take the actions towards making yourself free.

Instead of looking at this break from a place of “I am going to miss out on so much in the next 6 months to a year, I am choosing to look at it from a place of “I am going to gain so much joy from this.” 

Check out her story here: https://www.theeverco.co/blog-articles/2020/4/3/why-im-getting-off-of-instagram

2) This song: (My heart's anthem. Blast it on repeat, friends.)

Awaken my soul, come awake

To hunger, to seek, to thirst

Awaken first love, come awake

And do as You did, at first

Spirit of the living God come fall afresh on me

Come wake me from my sleep

Blow through the caverns of my soul

Pour in me to overflow

To overflow

Awaken my soul, come awake

To worship with all your strength

Spirit of the living God come fall afresh on me

Come wake me from my sleep

Blow through the caverns of my soul

Pour in me to overflow

Come and fill this place

Let Your glory now invade

Spirit come and fill this place 

Let Your glory now invade

Here's to a month, and hopefully beyond, to stillness, learning, healing, awakening my soul, refreshing my time and relationships, and to freedom. 

Much love,

Victoria Vue