BONUS EPISODE: ”Checking Your Likes is the New Smoking” - Craving, Suffering, and Instagram Addiction

On today’s episode, I reflect on my second day of stepping away from social media and the parallels between Instagram addiction and my sobriety journey from alcohol. Inspired by Cal Newport's Digital Minimalism and Joseph Goldstein's Mindfulness, I dive into the true costs of social media, how it fuels craving, and ways to let go.

Social media, much like any addiction, feeds on craving—whether it’s for likes, validation, or endless stimulation. Drawing on Buddhist teachings, the Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, and the 12 Steps, I explore how freedom from craving leads to inner peace and balance.

I share my personal story of how social media once helped build my sobriety and business but has now become a vortex of comparison and distraction. Through mindfulness, meditation, and reflection, I’m working to approach my digital life with awareness and equanimity—or perhaps detach from it entirely.

I’ll leave you with this powerful thought from Newport: “Checking your likes is the new smoking.”

Join me as I unpack these ideas and invite you to reflect on your relationship with social media. If you’re part of the detox group, I’d love to hear about your experience!

https://stan.store/alexmcrobs/p/join-the-30day-social-media-detox-in-january-2025

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