YogiWrites

I Lost Myself in the Scroll

It was 11:47 p.m. I had opened Instagram to post a photo from a sunset walk.

But 43 minutes later, I was deep in a spiral of people doing yoga better, meditating harder, and branding their “authentic selves” with fonts I didn’t even recognize.

My breath was shallow. My stomach tight. My inner critic loud.

I closed the app and stared at my reflection in the black screen.

This wasn’t connection. This was comparison. This wasn’t presence. It was performance.

And it wasn’t me.

When the Scroll Steals Your Soul

Let’s be honest: social media is built to hijack your nervous system.

You get dopamine hits from likes. Anxiety spikes from silence. And your attention—your most sacred currency—is constantly being sold.

It’s not your fault if you feel addicted. It’s by design.

But here’s the quiet rebellion: you can use these tools without being used by them.

The Scroll Doesn’t Have to Be the Enemy

Here’s what I started doing instead.

I began to treat my phone like sacred ground. Before opening any app, I asked myself one question: Why?

Was I seeking connection? Inspiration? Or just avoiding silence?

Most days, it was escape.

So I created a tiny ritual: I placed a small stone on my keyboard before posting—just to remind myself to breathe. To choose presence over performance.

A New Kind of Feed

I unfollowed accounts that made me feel “less-than.” Not because they were wrong. But because they weren’t aligned.

I started curating my feed like an altar—voices that made me laugh, pause, feel more human. Not more “on brand.”

It changed everything.

Now, opening Instagram feels like visiting a library of soul sparks, not a competition stage.

Post When It’s True

Here’s the test I use before sharing anything:

• Is it honest?
• Is it useful?
• Is it kind?

If I’m posting just to fill space or chase likes, I pause. If I’m sharing from truth, I go ahead—even if it’s imperfect.

The internet doesn’t need more noise. It needs more nerve. And heart.

The Sacred Power of Logging Off

One Sunday, I turned my phone off for 24 hours. No stories. No texts. Just silence.

I watched light shift through the windows. I journaled. I stared at the ceiling. I felt bored, then clear.

By sunset, I felt more me than I had in weeks.

That’s when I realized: logging off isn’t withdrawal. It’s returning.

Returning to your breath. Your space. Your truth.

What Digital Dharma Feels Like

It’s not about quitting the apps. It’s about staying awake in them.

Digital dharma is:

• Asking why before you scroll
• Posting from truth, not fear
• Curating your feed like a prayer
• Logging off like a monk with Wi-Fi

It’s using tech as a tool—not a trap.

The Final Word: Be Human Online

You are not an algorithm.

You are not a brand strategy.

You are a soul with thumbs and a story.

Use social media to amplify your light—not dilute your self.

Ready to try what I’m talking about? Place a small pebble near your laptop. Take a breath before you scroll. Start there. That’s digital dharma.