My Day off the Grid: An Experiment in Mindfulness

Mastery of life starts with mastery of the self. And mastery of the self requires an alternation of detachment from and engagement with the world. Its through engagement that we feel ourselves flow beyond our boundaries and transcend through the molding of what’s around us. But we must make sure the core from which this transcendent self flows is in alignment to its inner needs and nourishment. My meditating, or periodically disengaging from all distractions, we simply experience and enjoy what we have created, and replenish our ability to engage with the world.

After a particularly hectic run of mismanaged relationships, new business ventures, and innumerable distractions, I thought it was best to take a day off with no electronics. This included switching off all network devices. The idea was to a produce a state of groundedness that contrasted with the roamings of my mind that had characterized essentially all of 2020. I’m the type of person who gets extremely flustered when I do not feel in touch with my inner being. I had overextended and found myself in situations that were not in alignment with my goals. This is why meditative days are so vital. They allow us to reconnect with our true desires and self, and break away from all that is holding us back from them.

My day started in the mid-morning, since my alarm clock (aka iPhone) had been switched off the night before. I felt more well-rested then usual, which was likely due to the lack of blue light in my face before dozing off. At first, I…