Skip to main content

Disconnect to Reconnect: My Journey of Taking a Step Back


Lately, I've found myself overwhelmed by the never-ending buzz of social media—the endless notifications, the pressure to keep up, and the constant influx of everyone else's lives. So much drama, so many opinions, and so many voices trying to drown out our own. It’s easy to lose ourselves in the chaos, isn’t it? I realized that I was getting caught up in it all and losing sight of what’s truly important: my own well-being, my growth, and the peace that I work so hard to maintain.

So, I decided to do something that felt a bit radical in today’s digital age—I took a few days away from social media. I shut down the apps, silenced the noise, and made a conscious decision to get back to the basics, to find out what my soul truly needed at this moment. It wasn’t easy at first, but that’s how I knew it was necessary.

The Power of Silence

The first day felt strange. There was an urge to reach for my phone, almost like a reflex, every few minutes. It’s incredible how much we’ve conditioned ourselves to need that constant connection, even when it’s not healthy. But as the hours turned into days, I began to feel lighter. The silence allowed me to truly listen—to myself, to my thoughts, to the whispers of what my heart had been trying to tell me all along.

I found myself gravitating towards things that I had pushed aside—journaling, reading a book without interruptions, coloring (something that always brings me back to my inner child), and even just sitting with my own thoughts. It’s amazing how much clarity you gain when you allow yourself to be still. I could hear my own voice again, and it was so much stronger, more loving, and more supportive than the chaotic noise of social media.

Refocusing on What Matters

These days away gave me the space to re-evaluate what truly matters to me. It’s easy to get swept up in other people’s stories, to measure our worth by the number of likes, comments, and followers we have. But the truth is, none of that defines us. I realized that what truly matters is the impact I have on the lives around me, the genuine connections I foster, and the inner peace I work so hard to protect.

I was reminded of why I started my journey as a life coach in the first place—to help others heal, to be a guiding light for those dealing with trauma, sobriety, and finding their inner child again. It’s not about the validation that comes from a screen; it’s about the real, raw connections I make with people who need someone to understand their pain, someone who’s walked a similar path.

The Drama Trap

Let’s be real: social media is full of drama. It’s like an endless loop of people trying to prove themselves, seeking validation, and sometimes, tearing others down just to feel a sense of power. I found myself getting sucked into it—reading the comments, reacting to the negativity, and sometimes even questioning my own journey. But stepping away helped me see that this drama is just a distraction. It pulls us away from our purpose and keeps us from focusing on our own growth.

By taking a step back, I reminded myself that I don’t have to engage with the negativity. I don’t have to allow it to take up space in my mind or dictate how I feel about myself. I get to choose the energy I bring into my life, and I choose peace, love, and authenticity.

What I Learned from This Break

  1. Boundaries Are Essential: It’s okay to disconnect when things get overwhelming. Protecting our mental and emotional space is a form of self-love, and it’s one that we should never feel guilty about.

  2. Our Worth Is Not Defined by Others: We don’t need external validation to know that we are valuable, worthy, and deserving of love. Our worth comes from within, and that’s something no one can take away from us.

  3. Quality Over Quantity: It’s not about how many followers we have or how many likes we get; it’s about the genuine connections we make, the lives we touch, and the impact we have on the world around us.

  4. We Have the Power to Choose: We can choose what we allow into our lives, and we have the power to walk away from anything that doesn’t serve us.

Moving Forward with Intention

This break was exactly what I needed to realign with my purpose. I’m coming back with a clearer mind, a fuller heart, and a stronger sense of who I am. I’m more committed than ever to helping others on their journey to healing, to embracing their true selves, and to stepping out of the shadows of others’ expectations.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the noise of social media or the drama that comes with it, I encourage you to take a break, even if it’s just for a day. Disconnect to reconnect with yourself, and I promise you’ll come back with a clearer understanding of what truly matters to you.

Remember, you are more than the likes, comments, and shares. You are a powerful, beautiful soul with a purpose, and no amount of online noise can ever change that. Take the time to listen to your own voice, and you’ll find all the answers you’ve been searching for.

Until next time, keep shining, keep healing, and keep being unapologetically you.

With love and light,
DeAnna

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Beating You Weren’t Supposed to See: A Former AZDOC Officer Speaks Out

  Let me tell you something right now — that viral 3-minute video Fox 10 Phoenix aired last week? That wasn’t the whole story. That was just the tip of the blood-soaked iceberg. As a former Arizona Department of Corrections Officer, I know exactly what you're looking at in that video. You’re seeing the tail end of a brutal, calculated beatdown that started long before the cameras started rolling. That inmate? He’d already been dragged, pummeled, and bled out — by the time he was being chased down the entire length of the prison yard like a damn scene out of a gladiator movie. Fox 10’s report referred to it as a fight that “spilled out into the prison yard.” SPILLED OUT? Like someone knocked over a soda. No — this wasn’t some spontaneous scuffle. That man was hunted . Let’s Break Down the Bullsh*t Donna Hamm’s Comment: “The inmates are running the asylum, and that's not what the taxpayers in Arizona are paying for.” Newsflash: the inmates have always run the yard. Th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fighting for Ryan: The Battle for His Life Inside Arizona’s Broken System

  I never thought I’d be writing this. Not like this. Not as the wife of the man I used to guard, used to protect. Not as someone on the outside screaming for help that should’ve been automatic on the inside. But here we are. I used to serve this system. Now I’m exposing it. I used to wear the uniform. Sixteen hours a day, six days a week, I walked those same yards. I protected inmates, respected them, loved them—because I knew most of them had never known compassion a day in their life. I saw their pain, their potential, their humanity. And now? Now I’m fighting like hell for the one who stole my heart behind those very walls. My husband is being failed. Deliberately. Repeatedly. Brutally. For days now— too many days —my husband has been locked down in complete isolation under what they call “observation.” No family contact. No personal belongings. No consistent monitoring. No treatment plan. What he’s getting instead? A blanket and a pill. They’re trying to medicate h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fighting a Whole Prison System: One Wife's War for Justice

Let me tell you what it’s like to go to war—not with guns or bombs, but with phone calls, legal documents, and a heart that refuses to give up. I’m not just fighting for my husband—I’m fighting against an entire prison system built to wear people down until they give up. But I won’t. I haven’t. And I never will. My husband is incarcerated in Arizona Department of Corrections. And what started out as a mission to simply advocate for his safety has turned into a full-scale, nonstop battle with a system so corrupt, so broken, and so indifferent to human life that some days, I feel like I'm in the twilight zone. Where do I begin? Maybe with the time he was brutally attacked by another inmate and had to go into protective custody. Or when they transferred him from Red Rock to La Palma without notice, like a pawn on a chessboard. Or the multiple times his PC requests were denied, despite evidence of credible threats—and then used against him to accuse him of making false allegations. The...
Post a Comment
Read more