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If we stop and examine what's really taking place, we will see there are a couple of situations at play. Some people hide behind technology and gadgets to subconsciously avoid living their lives. They may be so afraid of being alone, feeling left out of the loop and not being accepted that they will spend hours interacting with people online about unimportant things just to stay in the loop. For some people, the thought of being without their gadgets brings up a lot of anxiety because their lives have been built around connecting with people through technology. As with all things, technology is great in a balanced life. It's up to us how we want to spend our time and what type of relationships we want to have with our family, friends and acquaintances. When we hide behind our gadgets, we aren't giving our friends and loved ones the wholeness of who we are in a meaningful exchange.

People have become afraid of silence because when there is silence, it is the body and soul's natural instinct to reflect back on your life. The perfect antidote to not wanting to be in touch with your life is to distract yourself with your gadgets. It's easy to become lost in the gossip and mindless chatter that can easily become the norm, thereby numbing yourself and making you feel out of touch with your life.

If you are ready to tune back in to your life and engage with your friends and family in a meaningful way, try putting away your gadgets for a day. At first, you may feel panicked, and that's okay—just be with it. Since socializing with technology has become a habit, your mind will wander to your cell phone, computer or email throughout the day. Remember to catch yourself and have other activities to do so you don't pick up your gadgets. Think about just being with your silence. Maybe start a journal. If you need something to do, try to get out into nature, put on some music and dance, go for a walk or read. At the end of the day, notice of how you feel. You may feel less exhausted because you haven't been trying to keep up with everybody. You may feel more peaceful because you have spent time doing things you really love. Choosing to spend less time being in distraction and more time being engaged will allow your life to become full with possibility and potential.

Madisyn Taylor is the co-founder of the online website DailyOM.com and spends too much time on the Internet. She's also a best-selling author; her books include DailyOM Inspirational Thoughts for a Happy, Healthy and Fulfilling Day (Hay House 2008) and DailyOM Learning To Live (Hay House 2010).

More on Disconnecting from Your Technology
Get a lesson in technology etiquette
How to unplug from the chaos and recharge your life
Why you need to give yourself more time and space

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