Holding On To Your Humanity

We live in a data-driven world but what it takes to thrive can’t be measured.

Have you noticed how much friendlier bots are getting?

I appreciate the warm, patient tone of the AAA chatbot as it connects me with someone who can jump-start my car. But sometimes I crave a real person to address problems not covered in an algorithm’s script.

In developmental psychology, bidirectional influence refers to the simultaneous influence of parents and their children influence each other.

I think a similar exchange exists between people and our technological tools.

I’m not convinced humans are getting more efficient, but we seem to be losing ground in traits that define our humanity.

Practicing mindfulness cultivates skills machines can never master.

Measuring the impact of contemplative practices will always be more qualitative than quantitative.

But I can’t think of anything more important to prioritize than holding onto what distinguishes us from our machines.

Savor pleasant moments

Bots don’t have preferences. They have programs.

We can practice attending to comfortable sensations in a way that makes comfortable situations feel even richer and more satisfying.

Call off the battle with unpleasant moments

Bots process information, but it’s impossible for them to feel frustrated by the process or the outcomes.

We can practice eroding our resistance to physical discomfort, unpleasant emotions, and uncertainty.

It doesn’t sound very appealing, but as Sigmund Freud observed, “One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.”

Update your default settings

Bots are at the mercy of their programming.

We can pay attention to how our patterns of behavior make us feel. It’s not quick or easy, but we can work to change our behaviors to experience different results.

Recognize our shared humanity

Bots aren’t capable of kindness or empathy.

It’s easy for us to get carried away by drama, but we’re equipped to listen, consider another person’s perspective, and identify common ground.

We can practice shifting our attention from our surface-level differences to the messy shared humanity beneath them.