Planting seeds

Welcome

Welcome. Thank you for stopping by. I am posting here now and again, not more than once a week, so you are welcome to sign up or have a read. I will share tips, inspirations and reflections. Some of it may be useful for your digital wellbeing.

Today, as I set up this space, I am thinking about planting seeds. Most of what I do is plant seeds and assist people with conditions to grow. It's autumn, and it is now time to collect seeds in the UK. I spent this weekend in our allotment collecting tiny seeds thinking about the giant plants they may wish to become next summer. I worked through all flower beds and carefully collected various types to then place them in paper bags, mark them and put them away. I came home with seeds in my hair and entertained the idea of flowers growing out of my head! Seeds are a symbol of possibility, aren't they?

Why not? What if it was possible? You see, a lot of what I do in my work is healing and liberation. I help people move beyond their status quo mostly by helping them ask the right questions. Instead of "why?" I encourage them to ask, "what if?"

In desperate, sad times (like this weekend in the UK), we tend to lock ourselves away from the world of opportunities. We slow down, dissociate and survive on autopilot. Liberation can feel almost impossible. So I come in with my optimism and a vast amount of years under my belt - a lifetime of studying change, systems, oppression and othering, as well as hope, love and compassion. I come in with kindness and an inner belief that a better way is possible.

I do so in the area I found liberating in my youth: digital wellbeing. As an early millennial, I witnessed the rise of the Internet and social media. Especially during my university years, I experienced the liberating power of easy, free access to information and intelligent technology solutions for collaboration and knowledge exchange. That was before algorithms, or the social media industry even existed. That was before the word "dopamine" was mentioned during industry events. That was before the now inherent negative technology bias was so insidious. I know how to deal with the challenges of our digital age better than many.

I also have a wide range of experience and training. I know the "beast" we call tech well enough to support others. I worked in European telecommunications, an Indian/global software engineering firm and then in the UK's first social media agency (hired on the spot for my language and blogging skills). Later, I was tasked to start an agency for charities. Throughout that time, I initiated a few local causes and volunteered for citizen journalistic and activist organisations. I also became a freelancer at some point. So I wore various hats in various sectors in many parts of Europe and the globe.

Ten years ago started developing what today is called "Voxel Hub" - a wellbeing hub providing training, counselling, coaching and consultancy on liberation for digital wellbeing. It combines my studies and work in teaching, coaching, writing, public speaking, ethics, leadership and entrepreneurship. What we do at Voxel Hub is small and impactful. I founded it to open people's minds to the possibility of a balanced, healthy, fulfilling life in the digital age, preferably without having to lock your mobile phone away, but with the ability to know when to pick it up and when to put it down.

We work with individuals, groups and large organisations, some of which ripple out their impact globally, so I am thrilled to be in this place now. I am currently adding counselling services to our offer, so it is a time of growth in impact. It's also a time to solidify who we are as a business before expanding beyond our small, trusted group of friends.

We work online, in VR and offline in many settings, including Nature - where my heart truly breathes. And so this space is for you and for me to explore what possibilities lay ahead of us. What seeds can we pick and grow together? What else is possible?

(Reflection)

As I will use this space to reflect on my learnings from this journey, I also hope to share small tips for reflection for you as well. So here's one for today:

Q: Think of your relationship with digital technologies. Think of the people you value and connect with via those technologies. Think about your relationship with yourself and the impact of digital tech on your wellbeing. What would your life look like if liberation towards a balanced life was a definite possibility for you?

A small tip on reflective practice: just go with it, and take the question as a soft intention to explore. Start thinking or writing, and most of all - feel it! Listen to your favourite song, dance, go for a walk or talk to a friend. Comment if it helps, and let's have a conversation. Or come back later and share your findings.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I look forward to getting to know you all a bit better!

(Now off to find a hairbrush, as I am still finding seeds...)