(Photo courtesy of Robin Worrall/unsplash.com)
I’ve heard people explain that they have no time to meditate for even five-minutes, and then proceed to tell me how they binge-watched some Netflix show or shared with me a series of Instagram posts. What were they saying about time?
If life were a buffet, social media would be the dessert table: colorful, sugary, and absolutely irresistible. Who doesn’t love a cat video followed by a meme about coffee addiction, topped off with a dance trend you’ll never attempt but secretly admire? It’s the ultimate candy store for your brain—easy, fun, and requiring absolutely no effort. Television and streaming services are just the same.
But here’s the twist: social media and TV ask nothing of us. They’re designed to keep us entertained, not enlightened. And boy, do they succeed. Forget telling me of the exceptions. Whenever the online world presents us with something uncomfortable—whether it’s a sobering headline or an unflattering glimpse of ourselves—it offers a conveniently placed “skip” button. Just one swipe, and poof! That unpleasant thought is gone, replaced by an influencer’s avocado toast or a dog in sunglasses.
We’ve turned “scrolling” into a full-time hobby, a lifestyle even. Entertainment isn’t part of life anymore—it is life. And the price? Well, we’ve traded the discomfort of growth for the convenience of distraction.
Enter Meditation, the Buzzkill of Your Mind
Now, imagine sitting down to meditate. Sounds peaceful, right? Think again. Meditation doesn’t offer you endless highlights of other people’s fabulous lives. Instead, it serves up your own inner monologue—unfiltered, unscripted, and often downright unpleasant. It’s like someone turned on a podcast of your worst thoughts and feelings, with no option to pause or skip.
Unlike social media, meditation doesn’t let you choose the playlist. Did you want to think about that embarrassing thing you said three years ago? Too bad. Curious why you feel restless all the time? Here comes the answer, ready or not. Meditation confronts you with the parts of yourself you’d rather ignore, like the existential crumbs swept under the rug of your subconscious.
But here’s the magic: this discomfort is where growth happens. Meditation doesn’t coddle you—it challenges you. And while social media keeps you chasing the next dopamine hit, meditation asks you to sit with the present moment, no matter how messy or mundane.
From FOMO to Freedom
Social media thrives on FOMO—fear of missing out. There’s always another story to watch, another post to like, another trend to follow. It keeps you chasing a finish line that doesn’t exist. Meditation, on the other hand, flips the script. It doesn’t care about FOMO because it teaches you to be content where you are, right now.
And let’s be honest: when was the last time Instagram showed you the “deeper aspects of your humanity”? Meditation does. It’s like peeling an onion—each layer brings you closer to your core, and yes, sometimes it makes you cry. But those tears are transformative. They’re the proof that you’re connecting with something real.
Swipe Less, Sit More
This isn’t to say we need to delete our social media accounts and move to a cave or turn off the TV. There’s a place for entertainment—it’s a great stress reliever and a fun way to connect. But when entertainment becomes the main course of life instead of the occasional treat, we miss out on the richness of self-awareness.
Meditation balances the equation. It’s the broccoli to social media’s dessert—not always what you crave, but exactly what you need. So the next time you find yourself mindlessly scrolling, consider swapping one swipe for a breath, one click for a moment of stillness.
Who knows? You might discover that the life you’ve been chasing online or in front of the 60+ inch screen was already waiting for you in the silence all along.
P.S. And meditation consumes no extra energy.
Bob Fagan has just published “The Little Book of Questions That Matter — A Lifetime Companion For Transforming Your Life.” It is available on Amazon. All proceeds through 2025 will be donated to charity.
