Millennials

Kerri shared something on Facebook that I found really, really, really, good.  It was talking about Millennials and the problems they face (through no fault of their own).  Their problems relate to - Parenting, Technology, Impatience, Environment.  The talk was by a guy called Simon Sinek. A look on the web shows he has his advocates and detractors.  But I have found I just need to draw breath, to have detractors.  It looks like his stuff is really good.
What really stood out to me, was the section on Technology.  I think it stood out because a person does not need to be a Millennial to experience these things.  He talks about balance.  Nothing he mentioned is wrong in itself, but it is when it is unbalanced, that problems happen.
I’ve done it, probably you have done it, but I reckon we have all seen it – people stuck with their heads glued to the phone.  It seems there is no regard for life or limb.  I laughed so much at some ones post about having a get together, so everyone could stare at their phones.
What the speaker said, that I did not know, was reliance on social media is a form of addiction.  When alcohol is consumed, the drug dopamine is produced.  When gambling, dopamine is produced and when someone responds to us on Facebook, dopamine is produced.  So much of what I do, is looking for the hit of dopamine.  He makes the point that, we have an age limit on consuming alcohol, and on gambling because of the potential negative effects, but there is no age limit on access to social media.  We want our hit.  When it does not happen our world falls apart.  We think “it must be me” (in my case, it probably is).
Unfortunately, what social media so often produces, is the absence of what is meaningful.  It is acknowledged by Millennials that social media friends are good for a good time, but not to be trusted or relied on.  Trust is built.  Meaningful relationships take time.  Face to face people are needed for that, but social media is crowding that out.
He recommends charging the phone in the lounge room, and not the bed room.  If my phone is my alarm, then buy an alarm clock.  One alarm clock I had, made an incredible racket.  I deliberately placed it somewhere where I heeded to get up to turn it off.  It got me up, whether I liked it or not.
He stresses big time that this is the hand those kids have been dealt.  As a result, to correct things will take more effort than it might have.  I have been very willing to complain about “the kids of today” but I must ask myself, have I been willing to lead, and be an example?  To me, it is very much a case of seeing what “reaping what we sow,” can produce.
For me, it means I will need to always keep my guard up.  These are not problems confined to Millennials.  They come in many guises, and can effect anyone.  As he often states, it is imbalance that is the problem. 
There is a time and a place for all this. It is when it takes over, there is a potential problem.  When something takes over, it is probably time for me to ask for help.