I’m reading The Narrow Path by Rich Villodas. I think I have recommended this book before. He’s easy to read, but it’s not fluff; it is an insightful and challenging read.

In his observations about this present generation, he calls them the Notification Generation, and speaks to the effects on our brains of seeing a comment, a like, even a disparaging comment. It feeds the dopamine craving and we begin to be unable to resist looking for and at likes and comments, any online attention.

I had my first BlackBerry when I went to DHQ in Edmonton. It fit in a holster that clipped onto your belt, and it would buzz or vibrate when an email came in. It could not show me cat videos or navigate my way home, but I found the draw of that notification irresistible. And yes, my kids and Wendy would comment, and I would naturally deny a need to look, but I get the power of the notification.

Now I get all sorts of notifications, and they even come to my watch!!

So, what to do? Well, turn down the notifications coming to you – it’s in the controls of your phone – and find a time when you can be quiet, away from the buzz, and when you can read good words, for me it’s books like this one. Lastly, remember that what people think or say is not as important as what we tell ourselves.

So join me and tell yourself, you don’t need to look.