Reclaiming Peace in this Digital Age

Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash

If you're anything like me, you often get sucked into the online world. Hours slip away, and afterward, you’re left feeling anxious and drained. You’ve consumed endless content in such a short time, and it all weighs on you. Your brain feels foggy, and your mind doesn’t feel free. It’s hard to stay present with your loved ones when your thoughts are still spinning with everything you just read or watched.

This is such a destructive cycle. If we could break free from it, I truly believe we’d feel liberated—free to live our own lives on our own terms, free from the constant pull to be "influenced." We wouldn’t be chasing after the latest trends in home decor, fashion, or recipes just because someone online told us we "should." We wouldn't second-guess our choices or feel inadequate because an influencer or so-called "expert" says we’re doing it all wrong. Are we losing our ability to trust our own instincts and intuition, letting thousands of online voices drown out our own inner guidance?

I miss the old days—when the content we consumed was slower and deeper. We’d get lost in a book, a movie, or in the wisdom of someone we admired personally. We took the time to understand who these people were and why they inspired us, and we let that inspiration shape us—not just their perfect homes or wardrobes, but their values, their character, their journey. We didn’t have to second-guess ourselves or be constantly told how to do things.

Lately, I’ve noticed that my peace often feels fleeting, and I can’t help but think the internet plays a big part in that. It’s creating a "cookie-cutter" culture where everyone’s home looks the same, their clothes are the same, their lives follow the same script. Are we losing our individuality? It’s a sad thought. We’re not robots, mindlessly following the herd—we are unique, each with our own tastes, our own quirks, our own skills, and our own sense of style. But the internet is eroding that. It’s making us feel like we need to look or live like everyone else, and it’s breeding discontentment with who we are and what we have.

There have been times when I felt perfectly happy, content with my life, until I went online. Suddenly, my home felt inadequate. My style felt inadequate. My talents felt lacking—when compared to the carefully curated lives I saw online. And just like that, my peace vanished.

That’s why we need to remember to "guard our hearts with all diligence, for out of it flows the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23). Don’t become like everyone else. Become who God created you to be. Don’t mindlessly follow the status quo. Listen to your inner compass—it was given to you for a reason. Choose to be different. Step away from the noise of the internet, and you may just find the peace and freedom you’ve been longing for on the other side.

“Sometimes I have to remind myself that I don’t have to do what everyone else is doing.”