Flourishing… with Your Phone. Know How?

FLOURISH.

It’s a word you might not use that often - I know I don’t. It’s a word you might not even think about that often. If you do, you maybe think about a sickly plant starting to thrive and grow green and full, or pale, sickly child growing healthier.

Flourish (v): to grow luxuriantly; to thrive.

I love the use of the word “flourish” in the central question of Tony Reinke’s excellent book, 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You. He says: “The question of this book is simple: what is the best use of my smart phone in the flourishing of my life?”

Because at the end of the day, we want lives that are flourishing (as unnaturally as the word may roll off or tongues.) We want to be the green, leafy plant - not the browning, dry fern wilting in the corner. We want to be the ruddy, active child, not the white-faced, bony one resting on the couch. We want to be thriving humans.

And this is the context in which it’s fruitful to think about our phone usage. How can we use this wonderful technology well? How can we maintain our humanity and all its unique gifts - hold onto our attention, sense of presence, capacity for solitude, interpersonal relationships - while also using our phones?

I love my phone. Every day it enhances my life:

• music and podcasts

• calendar and GPS

• camera and notes

• connection with friends

It’s such a gift to have access to these things - at my fingertips. My phone’s such a vehicle for efficiency, and can be such a tool for growth.

I also find using my phone can be tricky, sometimes very tricky. I can become dependent, distracted, reactive. It can take me away from my setting… and even myself. It can suck me down a black hole of clicking, scrolling, and reactivity. Using it can erode my soul, if I’m not careful.

And this is where Reinke’s question of flourishing is so helpful. If we want to flourish we will need a firm grasp on our priorities… and we will need intentionality to implement them. Balance will not come by chance. Holding onto peace, presence, attention, wonder and relational health won’t come by chance either.

My number one suggestion: stay off your 1) social media and 2) news/podcasts until at least 12 noon every day. It works wonders.

What’s your best tip?

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