There’s a narrative circulating right now that goes something like this:

“If you use AI, you’re not being authentic.”
“If you care about mindfulness, you can’t embrace technology.”
“If you’re focused on productivity, you can’t be present.”
“If you’re working with cutting-edge tools, you’re not living intentionally.”

I call bullshit.

These are false dichotomies. Binary choices that don’t actually exist. And I’m tired of pretending they do.

The Collaboration Paradox

Here’s the truth about how I write:

I start with an idea — something I genuinely feel, think, or want to share. I write my heart out, not really pausing to care about punctuation or capital letters. Then I work with AI to clean it up. To polish the grammar and punctuation. To make it flow better. To hit a certain length.

Is that unethical?

When I write fanfictions, there are days I can’t do much writing. When I pick it back up, sometimes I goof up the tenses between chapter. Claude or Copilot help me repair these. Sometimes Copilot does more of a ‘find and replace’ and misses the nuance — like keeping everything in present tense except when a character is narrating something that happened in the past. I go back in and clean those up. But for the most part, it’s still AI-edited.

Is the story not genuine then?

Some would say yes. That “real” writing has to be 100% human-generated, untouched by algorithms, pure and unassisted.

But here’s what they’re missing:

This is collaborative work.

Not me vs. AI. Not AI as my master or slave. We’re working together on a piece. I bring the humanity — the lived experience, the emotion, the point of view. AI brings structure, clarity, efficiency.

The result? I can write about mindfulness, get my point across, and actually reach people. I can offer a perspective that invites others to choose themselves, to live in peace with themselves, to see what’s possible.

None of that is wrong.

In fact, I’d argue it’s more human — because it allows me to focus on what matters (the message, the connection, the impact) rather than getting lost in the mechanics of perfect sentence structure.

The Grounded Technologist

I spend my days solving complex technical problems. I work with cutting-edge technology. I juggle multiple systems, debug intricate issues, architect solutions that affect how people work.

Does that make me less mindful? Less grounded?

Not even close.

Every technical decision I make has a human impact — my colleagues’ workflows, the people we serve, the time they get back (or lose), the frustration they avoid (or experience).

Understanding that bigger picture is what keeps me grounded.

It’s not about choosing between being a technologist or being mindful. It’s about bringing mindfulness into the work.

Progress and Presence Aren’t Opposites

Here’s another false dichotomy I see everywhere:

“If you’re focused on productivity and progress, all you can do is hustle. You can’t be present and mindful.”

As if ambition and peace can’t coexist. As if striving and stillness are enemies.

I’m literally pursuing an AI/ML certification while building a mindfulness business. I optimize workflows while practicing gratitude. I set ambitious goals while honoring my need for rest.

These aren’t contradictions. They’re integrations.

Progress without presence burns you out.
Presence without progress can feel aimless.
But progress with presence? That’s sustainable. That’s intentional. That’s actually living.

The question isn’t “Should I be productive or present?” The question is:

• How do I bring presence into my productivity?
• How do I pursue goals without losing myself in the chase?
• How do I optimize systems while staying connected to why they matter?
• How do I grow and evolve while remaining grounded in who I am?

That’s not a contradiction. That’s wisdom.

Intentional Living in a Technological Age

Here’s where the false dichotomy really breaks down:

People assume that “intentional living” means rejecting modern tools, slowing down, unplugging, going analog.

But intentional living isn’t about what tools you use. It’s about how and why you use them.

For me, intentional living means choosing what feels right in this moment. If I can play with technology and make ethical, logical choices — decisions that benefit human beings — then by all means, those cutting-edge tech tools are working with me.

They’re helping me live more intentionally, not less.

Because here’s the thing: Intention isn’t about purity. It’s about alignment.

• Am I using this tool to avoid myself, or to express myself?
• Am I making this choice out of fear, or out of purpose?
• Am I disconnecting from humanity, or finding new ways to connect?

Those are the questions that matter.

My Brand Proves the Point

Here’s maybe the most obvious example of this paradox:

My brand is called Solve Digitally — its purpose is to provide digital solutions and tools that work with human life.

My first product collection? Six & Three — focused entirely on intentional living, mindfulness, productivity, and gratitude.

If you believe the false dichotomy, this shouldn’t work.

How can a “digital solutions” brand create tools for mindfulness?
How can someone building with technology teach about presence?

But that’s exactly the point.

I use digital tools to create resources that help people live more intentionally. I leverage technology to support practices that ground us. I build digital planners that encourage people to pause, reflect, and choose what matters.

The digital isn’t the enemy of the intentional. It’s the vehicle.

And honestly? The name Solve Digitally paired with a mindfulness collection is the most both/and thing I could’ve done.

The Both/And World

We live in a both/and world, not an either/or world:

• You can use AI and be authentic.
• You can work in tech and be mindful.
• You can pursue ambitious goals and stay present.
• You can embrace cutting-edge tools and live intentionally.

In fact, I’d argue that the future of humanity isn’t about choosing between technology and soul.

It’s about learning to bring soul into our use of technology. It’s about partnership, not opposition. It’s about integration, not separation. It’s about being fully human with our tools, not in spite of them.

What This Looks Like in Practice

For me, it looks like this:

• Writing about mindfulness with AI as my editor, because the message matters more than the method
• Solving technical problems while staying grounded in the human impact of each decision
• Using productivity tools not to become a machine, but to create space for what makes me feel alive
• Pursuing my AI/ML certification while building a business about intentional living
• Designing digital illustrations with Procreate or Illustrator, then turning them into tangible greeting cards with heartfelt messages
• Embracing automation where it serves me, and saying no where it doesn’t

It’s messy. It’s nuanced. It doesn’t fit neatly into anyone’s framework.

But it’s real. And it works.

The Invitation

So if you’ve been told you have to choose — between being human and using AI, between mindfulness and technology, between progress and presence, between intention and innovation:
I’m here to tell you — you don’t.

The dichotomy is false.

You can be both. You can integrate. You can bring your humanity into your use of technology, and let technology amplify your humanity. You can pursue goals while staying grounded. You can optimize while remaining present.

That’s not a compromise. It’s evolution. And it’s the most intentional thing I can think of.

💙 What false dichotomies have you been navigating? Where are you finding integration instead of opposition? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Hugs!
~Varada