#152 August 8th, 2024

Change Your Use Of Technology To Lead A More Connected Life - Purpose Project, Inc.

This article challenges us to think about how we use technology on a daily basis. It’s become such a standard and normal part of life that we probably don’t even really think about it anymore. How do you feel physically and mentally when you are on your phone, using a specific app, or seeing certain things on your phone? Often we’re not even aware that our phones are triggering us into stressful states. Our screens can also be a way to shield ourselves from difficult things in life that we don’t want to deal with.

?If unpleasant feelings or circumstances pop up we can just pull on our phones and find lots of less intense things to distract us from what we should be dealing with. If you look at the screen time tracker on your smartphone, do you want to be spending as much time on your phone as it says you are? Did you even know that that is how much time you are spending, or is the amount much higher than expected?

You are supposed to own and control your technology, not the other way around. I don’t think technology is inherently good or bad on its own. It’s a tool and can be good or bad, but we have to be intentional about that choice.?

The Only Remedy for FOMO (fear of missing out)

I think everyone can relate to experiencing FOMO, and it’s even become pretty regular nowadays since social media is constantly showing us what other people are doing. This Leads to so much comparison.?

It’s easy to get down on ourselves that we’re not experiencing more or doing as much as what other people are doing. It can speed us up into a rush to try to always be doing more or thinking about being in a different place than where we are now, which all makes us miss out on every present moment.?

That is the author's remedy here, becoming much more present in order to conquer the fear of missing out. We don’t have to scramble from place to place, always trying to fit more in. Often we make things seem more important and urgent than they actually are. Slow down and consciously choose what really does matter and is important to you, rather than doing it all simply for the sake of doing it all.?

It’s better to do a small number of things fully present then jumping from place to place all the time. If you are always thinking about what you are missing it is impossible to be present.?

Practicing an Attitude of Gratitude — Life and Whim Studio by Heather Harrington

This author gives advice on how to create an abundance mindset rather than a scarcity mindset. Focusing on creating a bigger pie for everybody rather than just trying to get as much of a slice as possible of a finite pie.?

We can create this better mindset by choosing to focus on what we have rather than what we lack. Your mindset and perspective are totally within your control. Don’t you just feel better in every way when you are focusing on what you already have rather than what you still desire? The author also gives advice to stop comparison because that typically just makes us think about what other people do have that we do not have. Be happy for others instead of being jealous of them. That person you are jealous of probably still has a ton of issues and trials that they are dealing with, you just can’t see them.?

An abundance mindset does not mean that you do not continue to strive for more, it just means you choose peace and contentment regardless of where you are on the journey, which can help you enjoy the whole process so much more.

Who is the author of your desires?

If you were to stop and think about the day-to-day desires and motivations that are a part of your normal life, what are they? Are they things that you think will make you happy, or are they things that society has told you will make you happy??

If it is the latter, you may not even be aware that it is motivating you. We are so impressionable when we are young, and often we pick up motivation from others around us. I would also bet that what society has told you to pursue is probably not the same as what you would pursue if you had decided for yourself. That is because our modern world, particularly in the United States, has told you that money, followers, and fame are what will make you happy. But how many people do we see on social media who have all of those things yet they are still miserable? Clearly there is a misalignment in what we have been told to value and what will make us feel fulfilled.?

What we should be pursuing is connection and deep relationships. I feel like we would all say we know that’s what will matter more when we’re looking back on our lives. So why don’t we start acting that way now??

If you need a coach or a mentor on the CPA exam I would love to help you and work together; please check out my website below:

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CPA tip of the week: After the score release at the end of July, I want to encourage the people where this is their first, second, or third passing score. Please do some thing to recognize and celebrate this accomplishment. This is a big deal!

When you still have sections left to complete it is so easy to just be on to the next thing right away. It’s so easy to spend more time focusing on what you have left rather than appreciating how far you have come.

But it is much tougher to sustain both self-discipline and motivation when we do not recognize and appreciate the progress we are making.

We all naturally want to see results from the effort and time we are putting into something, and you make it harder on yourself if the only result you will appreciate is the final finish line of passing all four sections.

It’s fun to encourage and praise loved ones for doing difficult things right? So I think we should do that for ourselves too!

Guest post: Jacob G. giving great advice to aspiring CPAs on what to do if their friends aren't totally supportive of the sacrifices you are making.