Page 33 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 27 Final
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Community



               and more anxious we become. Constantly           in charge so as to understand our human

               comparing one’s life to how others have          limitations. It requires us to recognize that
               “made it” in theirs can make one feel            vulnerability is not a sign of weakness but
               insecure and fear losing out. Even though        rather a characteristic of humanity. When we

               the virtual world seems so vast, it can trap us   embrace our limitations, we can gain a deeper
               in echo chambers that keep us from hearing       understanding of how we are all connected
               different points of view and making real         to one another and the rest of the world. We
                                           connections with     recognize that no matter how wonderful
                                           other people. In     our phones are, they cannot replace the

                                           a harsh twist,       authenticity of face-to-face communication
                                           we may even          or the tranquility of being alone, away from
                                           lose control         digital bombardment.

                                           of our mental
                                           well-being when      In the end, the pathway to real freedom is to
                                           we try to get a      find a balance between using technology to
                                           handle on our        our advantage and avoiding its problems. It’s
                                           digital lives.       a journey that takes a change in perspective:

                                                                from trying to control everything to accepting
                                           We miss out          uncertainty, from looking for validation
               on an important part of life when we try to      online to finding satisfaction in ourselves and

               be in charge instead of learning to accept       genuine relationships. This change shows
               our limitations. Authentic spirituality and      how strong and mature we are as individuals.
               maturity come when we understand that the
               world is vast and has many different parts       In a world that values being connected all the
               that we can’t control. The rain falls when it    time, it takes courage to step back, unplug,

               wants to fall, irrespective of how you feel      and find comfort in the things we can’t do.
               about it. The sun sets in alignment with its     Spiritual growth isn’t helped by internet
               natural course, indifferent to our thoughts      ‘likes’ and ‘comments’, but by how well we

               and feelings. We lack the capacity to dictate    know ourselves and how willing we are to
               other people’s opinions or words about us,       admit that control is often an illusion.
               just as, even though, by our choices, we
               can ensure that we build our lives wisely,       As we embark on this journey, we may find
               we cannot dictate the course of life itself.     that the truest sense of freedom comes not

               As individuals, we may experience illness,       from being in control of our surroundings but
               weariness, and moments of self-doubt.            from embracing our weaknesses and finding
               Friends may betray us, and we may not            connections in the midst of uncertainty.

               always have the will to fight back.


               We must relinquish the notion that we are




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