Hi, I’m your average Lubavitch high school girl and I would like to share with you my journey of gevurah and personal Geulah regarding technology. Gevurah is all about power, resistance, and strength.
Since we are in the time of sefira and nearing Shavuos, I feel that this is an appropriate time to discuss this topic.
Although Gevurah is only one of the sefiros, it is one that I have worked on and continue to work on in my day-to-day life.
My story goes as follows:
I had a smartphone for a couple of years. I would describe it as my best friend and consequently, my worst enemy.
Then came the pandemic and I found myself spending hours on my device. First, it was just on Zoom, but then came the endless free time. I felt grim regardless of the fact that I had a filter and was protected from the worst. The bad feeling was just the emotional part. There was physical pain too! Pain in my hand and fingers.
Besides that, I went to sleep late, sometimes very late. Needless to say, the next morning and even the rest of the day was wrecked.
So after much thought and internal Gevurah, I made a life-changing decision and I returned my smartphone back to my parents. I went to the nearest phone shop and purchased a flip phone. I completely turned my life around and for once, I felt free. Free from the claws of the internet and free from my smartphone. I had experienced a personal geulah.
As time passes, I am seeing incredible results. Getting rid of my smartphone has led me to go to sleep earlier and sleep better. This decision has helped me become a happier and healthier person both physically and spiritually.
Another advantage of getting rid of my smartphone is that I have found that I have been spending much more time reading and spending time with my family. This journey is definitely a road that I will travel the rest of my life because one can only acquire this path if they work on themself. I am so thankful to Hashem that I’m not tied down to a thin square piece of glass and that I am unbound from the chains of a smartphone.
I used to think that it was impossible to get rid of it and make the big switch, but it can be done. I am very proud that I have come far and made this decision which changed everything. I take one day at a time but I hope to keep my self-implemented commitment. I’m sure you can do it too…
Kol Hakavod to you!
you should see much bracha in your life from this 🙂
You are very brave speaking of a challenge we are facing . You inspired me to analyze all wasted time that will never return.
Thank you so much for sharing!! I have no doubt your decision will bring forth a shefa of brocha in your life. Wishing you lots of continued hatzlocha in your path. We have a lot to learn from you.
This is amazing!! Wish I had the strength to do it too
You do have the strength!
Ok now I have a message for all Jews: please don’t use social media, or any of these sitra achra things!! Study Torah instead. Also, Hashem loves you. May we all reach the highest level for our souls possible in this lifetime!
Commendable. Respect.
I was also on a similar journey at one point and decided to get a flip phone. But having a few thousand contacts i ran into a problem since the flip phone could only handle 500 or so. Also there is no mechanism to transfer them immediately. And i wasn’t about to enter each one manually… Then i heard about the LIGHT PHONE thelightphone.com It’s a talk and text only. No apps no internet surfing. But it is managed via a dashboard. And as such all one’scontacts can be uploaded. It’s been ordered and is pending shipping. I look forward… Read more »
I have MetroPCS will light phone work with this carrier
Beautiful inspiring story. Not only you made a positive change but to share with and inspire others is next level amazing. Kol hakavod
Kol hakovod!!
wow im so happy something like this was written and put out there. i also went through a similar thing and the thing is people reading this will never truly appreciate the freeness until they actually do it…i also felt like only now im truly present and living the way hashem wants me too. iyh everyone will do the same
We dont realize how the phone runs our life כפשוטו!! Thank u for sharing this !!
I had a similar journey.
I had the filtering company “Gentech” set up my iPhone so that there is no browser and no social media.
My life has been so much better, more successful, and productive ever since!
I recommend reading a short book “How to break up with your smartphone” available on Amazon for just $11
Success to all with your personal journey!
This is something we all need to hear, we all waste too much Precious time on our smartphones.
You are inspiring me to put my phone away every evening when my kids need my attention. It is so addictive and the message to my kids is my phone is way more important then you are.
But I feel it also saves me much time to have a smartphone,but I wish I had the right balance- use at set times of day not all the time
I really commend you for doing this! I personally experience that freedom too whenever I put away my smart phone. People are realizing this and are doing the switch.
Good for you!
So amazing that your sharing!
I was wondering if can I share with my students this articule ? To translate this to Hebrew ?
You are a LIGHTER. Kol akabod 🏆