I Fell Down the Rabbit Hole

I fell down the rabbit hole, and honestly, I'm shocked at how easily I tripped and fell into it.

I've been on social media for a while now, just like you: LinkedIn for work and a bit on Facebook and Instagram. However, since so many people talk about TikTok, I wanted to download it and see if it was any different.

It is.

I noticed something fascinating during my two-week trial of using this app.

I noticed that, once again, there are people out there who are hysterically funny - just average individuals who post anonymously and do or say extremely amusing things.

But then something happened; somehow, in the algorithm, a video was pushed to me of a policeman arresting someone, and it was the actual body cam video.

Because I watched that, 100 more body cam videos were then pushed to me.

I did not like anything or follow any person. I didn't comment, and yet, that's what was showing up in my feed.

I was glimpsing into a world I've never seen firsthand.

I was watching people who were caught shoplifting be arrested, and it was incredible how rudely they spoke to the police officers, spit at them, pushed them, and ignored their instructions.

It was shocking and very sad.

And it's very easy when you start watching these after 10 minutes; it then becomes two hours. And I noticed, after two nights of this happening, that when I got into bed to go to sleep, I was having nightmares directly related to what I was watching.

In high school psychology class, we were shown a research video from a study done in 1961 Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment of children's behavior after watching violence.

You know what those researchers saw. I don’t have to tell you.

It is so insidious, but what we allow into our hearts and minds immediately impacts them.

And what is the impact of this on our friends, family, coworkers, children, and people who we will never meet as we drive down the road?

The first thing I did this morning when I woke up was uninstall this app.

I invite you to practice as a mindfulness exercise just noticing how you truly feel within your body when using these various apps.

Do you feel drawn to open them?

How do you feel after viewing whatever you just watched?

What do you think the impact is on your body, your sleep, and your peace of mind?

Our minds and our bodies fit together like a hand in a glove, and to be mentally healthy, we genuinely need to guard against this level of negativity.

We have to do it because no one else will be doing it for us.

We must safeguard our hearts and minds, set clear boundaries, and acknowledge that we are responsible for our well-being.

Self-care is not a luxury.

It is critically important now more than ever.

Now that it's lighter at night, what will you do with the extra time we have to be outdoors?

I suggest you consider spending some time in nature and making new memories that engage all your senses.

And then, notice how it feels and the impact it has on your body and mind.

If I can fall so easily into a hole, I know you can, too.

Please be careful.

Your heart and mind depend on it.

***********************************

🌟 Why Companies Hire Harriet

Her programs leave your team feeling more focused, relaxed, and in control of their day.  

As a registered nurse who taught mindfulness within a Fortune 50 company, Harriet speaks the language of both healthcare and business. With over 25 years of corporate experience, she uses humor and science to deliver practical tools that create real, lasting change—never through a lecture, always through meaningful, interactive experiences.

Ready for your team to reset and refocus? Reach out to learn more. https://www.harrietstein.com/contact-us/

Learn at your own pace from my book: Perfect Attendance: Being Present for Life (https://books2read.com/u/bwN2dY)

“AI will never replace the look in someone's eyes that appreciates your help.” Harriet Stein