Leaving social media is the second hardest thing I’ve ever done. The first was getting the vaccine, but that’s another story. Stepping away from it has allowed space to reflect on my journey with Facebook, which lasted around 13 years or more. I know that people leave social media every day and it’s not a big deal, yet I have a strong sense that this was meant to be something that would cause me a lot of pain and turmoil, and ultimately lead to enlightenment.
I believe we each have our own missions and reasons for coming to Earth. If you don’t follow this kind of thing that’s ok. I understand and would never want anyone to believe or follow what I do. I have followed a lot of teachers, read a lot of books, subscribed to many groups, healing modalities and courses, all of which I can no longer relate to. Through it all I have somehow arrived here ~ within my own internal guidance, and with a deeper sense that I am supported by the Divine. As time goes on I will share more of what that is for me.
This is why I can no longer be a part of group healings or spiritual teachings; because I believe more than ever that we each have unique lessons to learn in this life, that will require different ways of seeing, relating and taking action in the world from one another. For me, I have faced the possibility that I am in fact, not awakened at all because I chose to receive the Covid vaccine, or because I care too much about what people think of me. But I have realised that it is how we live as our unique soul’s essence in a physical, human body that determines our growth; not by staying above it all and cutting ourselves off from the dense, heavy layers and challenges of this physical life.
I feel that I am going through a huge life lesson right now that relates to social media. As I drove my car down the driveway today, feeling the cool breeze from outside, looking around at the 12 acres of bush that is my home, I felt peace for the first time in a very, very long time. I am usually consumed all day, every day with thoughts of how I will be seen in the world. I felt peace knowing that I was going into town to buy coffee and that I was free to be kind to others and not feel any obligation to be a certain way. I spoke the words out loud to myself that I heard: “Enlightenment cannot come through other people. It comes when you release the need for recognition from others. Without the need for recognition, there is space to just live your life ~ not for this recognition, but for the experience of it.”
And space there is! I feel like I have so much time and space to share more than I ever have before! I love that I can come into this blog space and write whatever I like, without thinking or knowing who might see it and approve. I actually feel like I can share more openly and honestly, as it is no longer dependent on how it will be viewed or understood. Being misunderstood by others is unavoidable. But if this is something that affects us greatly and impacts our ability to function in the world, then social media is not the place to share ourselves; I know that now. For those who do not need to learn these lessons in this life, social media may not be something that causes anxiety and suffering.
If I am to be honest, I have known for quite some time that I don’t belong on Facebook. Yet I continued to ignore the signs…signs like feeling rejected from others, trying to be more beautiful, attractive, wise, awakened, or seen in a certain way. Feeling down and unmotivated, having a lack of passion, energy and focus. Yet, I thought that this was the only chance I would have at being seen and understood for who I truly am. And the lesson in it all? I may not fully know yet, I may not be through it. But I have a sense that it’s not necessarily about learning to love myself, and be the one who sees and understands me; I already do. It’s about sharing who I am in places that invite those who truly see me, truly understand me, truly care for me, and truly want me, to come to me. I was never meant to try!
I have been selfish in saving myself only for social media. In the trying and searching for recognition in this way I have closed myself off from allowing those who truly benefit from my presence to find me. And if any of those people are on Facebook, they will find a way to stay connected. My job is to simply share myself in safe places and be open to who might find me. In this way I have so much free time and energy to live my life the way I truly want to live it. I cannot be loving and kind to others when I am busy trying to find this in all the wrong places. My heart feels open now. A weight has been lifted. I may not know the definition of awakening or enlightenment, but something has shifted and I feel more myself than ever before.
Thank you for being here and sharing in my journey, whoever you may be. I appreciate you.
Love Leisa ❤
Leisa Coleman 