Pace Report #1: The 10:15PM Slip
Hi ReaderI promised to be honest with you about this journey. Week 1 of living by my new Digital Manifesto has been a fight. I haven't opened my WhatsApp in seven days. The messages are sitting there, unread and silent. In a world that preaches "availability is relevance," that silence felt like a superpower. But discipline isn't a straight line. The Struggle On Day 7, I found myself waiting for a response and I replied at 10:15PM, way past my "sunset rule." Earlier in the week, while I was on my computer, I found myself slipping into the YouTube "Shorts" rabbit hole. Even without the phone in my pocket, the itch to doom-scroll found a way to show up on my desktop. It's real!!! The Win This feeling was strong. I started hearing what I call an "Invisible Censor"—a ringing voice in my head that said, “You said you weren't doing this. It’s time to stop.” It wasn't a voice of judgment; it felt more like a "class whip" keeping me focused. It’s the sound of my intentions finally becoming louder than my impulses. My Advice for Your Week Someone told me this week, "I wish I could stay off my phone that long, but I have to answer calls." My answer? You don’t have to disappear to win. You just have to conquer the "stronghold" of the scroll. Start small. Start with just one day. Turn the notifications off and find something else to do. If you must be online, use a device that doesn't have the apps that suck you in. When that urge to scroll hits and you choose to look away instead, it feels like a pat on the back from someone you admire. It feels good to win. The Anchor When the urge feels too strong, I remember that I am more than a conqueror. That is my anchor, and it can be yours too. You aren't a slave to the glow of a screen. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37 P.S. I’m still documenting the "Hardest Parts" for the upcoming E-book, The Indispensability Myth.(the title for now) If you know someone who is struggling with the "stuffed suitcase" of life, forward this email to them and have them [Join the Waitlist Here]. Stay paced, [FumiPB] Can you do me a favor and share this newsletter with a friend who needs a reminder that everything is not as hard as it seems. While you wait I have read the first chapter of this book Unplugged by Hannah Brencher, I highly recommend. God is your source. He wants you to have the thigs that bring you joy. Stay tuned for next weeks "Pace Reports" an honest look at my journey to stay present in a world that wants us to rush. Let’s learn to be still, together. What are you working on this week? A reply would bless my heart.
Simplicity Elevated Fumi PB |