Beyond the Screen: Cultivating Mindfulness in the Digital Age
by Paul Robear

For a lot of us, it starts first thing in the morning—we reach for our phones even before we get out of bed. We have become accustomed to this as part of modern life—but we also realize how much it is pulling us away from being present in our own lives.

In an increasingly connected world, mindfulness has become not just a luxury but a necessity. We live in a time where information is constant, our attention is fragmented, and there is an expectation to always be “on call.” It’s easy to feel like life is happening through our devices rather than in from within us. The fast pace of the digital age is only accelerating. So how do we maintain and reclaim our presence? How do we engage with technology consciously rather than reactively?

These are questions I often ask myself as a director of this institute whose core mission is to explore the inner technology of humanity. On a personal level, like most of us, I find it is a challenge to find that balance.

Mindfulness doesn’t mean rejecting technology—it means using it with intention. It’s about pausing before reacting. It’s about choosing to be present. It’s about recognizing that our attention is valuable and deciding where to place it.

There are simple ways to cultivate this balance. Setting boundaries—like designated screen-free times or limiting notifications—helps create mental space. Engaging in activities that don’t involve screens, like walking in nature, journaling, or having uninterrupted conversations, reminds us of the richness of direct experience. In addition, there is a full spectrum of mindfulness practices. We find that incorporating Ritual Postures into our lives serves as a powerful bridge between mindfulness and deeper states of awareness, grounding us in a way that modern distractions cannot. This embodied practice allows me to enter a state of presence that extends beyond the everyday.

The practice of Ritual Postures provides a different approach than meditation. Unlike passive meditation, Ritual Postures actively engage the body, breath, and mind in a way that fosters a heightened awareness of the moment—a trance state. During a posture session, a profound sense of connection emerges. This practice helps reinforce the importance of being fully present in our body and surroundings. Ritual Postures is not intended to replace meditation, rather we see it as compliment to a meditative practice.

The digital world isn’t going anywhere, and neither is our need for connection. But true connection begins with presence—with showing up fully for ourselves and for those around us. I have found that by weaving mindfulness and Ritual Postures into my daily life, helps navigate this digital age with greater clarity, balance, and intention. And perhaps, in doing so, together we will continue to discover the depth of life beyond the screen.