The internet presents a wonderful opportunity to explore all of the information available to humanity, or most of it, maybe, we could probably look it up right now on the internet to see how much information is there, but let’s not.
Fundamental to building a healthy relationship with the internet, and mental health in general, is learning how to notice some brain stuff, accept that it’s there, but not put it in charge of your actions. It could be an urge that pops into your head, but it could also be something like an uncertainty. It could be the kind of question that sends you down a Wikipedia hole. You started out wondering what movie you’ve seen that actor in before, and now it’s two hours later and you’re an expert on the Hittite Emperor planning a trip to the ruins of Hattusa.
The thing is, reacting to uncertainty by checking for reassurance and chasing certainty, are common compulsions that can fuel anxiety and even more uncertainty, or simply consume hours (and days) of our lives chasing that right feeling that everything is ok, we’ve made the right choice, we haven’t done something wrong, etc.
As you go about your day today, notice how you interact with uncertainties online. Maybe you want to check to make sure you got the best price on something. Or you’re just curious about some mental illness symptoms. Maybe you have a compulsion to check your finances or your social media profiles. Or you spend the day planning trips you’re not actually taking, or researching cameras you’re not buying. There are so many possibilities. Notice that uncertainty. And consider if you really need to spend time and energy on it. What if you simply let it be there?
EXERCISE: Quickly create something to share online
Perhaps as you were planning out your actions for the week, you might have had several days of preparation and research planned. Maybe a whole week! That is very thoughtful of you. But for today’s exercise, share something online that aligns with your values and what you want to grow. Post quickly. Get started. If we’re launching something online, we often feel we need to feel ready or feel confident before we start. But we can take an iterative approach. We don’t have to know everything. We’ll learn from our audience and our customers. So share something. Start. If you some research makes sense for what you’re doing, set a time limit. You could give yourself 30 minutes to explore, and then 30 minutes to create the best thing you can make right now, given what you know. It doesn’t have to be a perfect thing. You’re nourishing the garden here. You’re watering it, not trying to conjure a tomato plant out of thin air. You can’t know in advance how the garden will turn out. You’ve got to start watering and fertilizing it.