The Unlikely Blessing of Being Locked Out
The digital nightmare began the day I got a new phone. In an attempt to be responsible, I backed up my old device to the cloud, assuming all my apps and data would transfer seamlessly.
For weeks, everything was fine until a password change locked me out of both my personal and business accounts on Facebook. That’s when I discovered a fatal flaw in my plan: my two-factor authenticator app, designed to protect my accounts, did not transfer its data.
What followed was a maddening month-long battle with the tech giant. I was trapped in a digital labyrinth, sending my photo ID and dozens of selfies from three different devices, only to be met with automated responses and dead-end contact forms.
As a business owner with an active ad account, I assumed I’d have access to a dedicated support channel. I was wrong. My predicament went from a simple tech issue to a frustrating test of patience, proving that when things go wrong, getting a human to help is anything but easy.
Surrendering to Freedom
After ten days of this wild goose chase, I was completely exhausted. I gave up. But the moment I surrendered the fight, the most incredible thing happened: I discovered a surprising silver lining. With my social media out of reach, I suddenly had a lot more free time.
This forced detox wasn't a punishment; it was an unexpected gift. I reconnected with my grandkids, picked up a neglected watercolor painting hobby, and lost myself in hours of uninterrupted reading.
Most importantly, my mornings with God became richer and my journaling felt deeper and more present. It was only after I let go of the need to fix the problem that I realized the true blessing of newfound freedom.
The True Moral of the Story
I wish I could tell you that I found a magical solution to the login issue, but that's not what happened at all. I finally got back into my account after a month of being locked out—and it was on the same day I had impulsively replied to a Facebook ad bill, frustrated that I was still being charged for services while locked out of my account.
I also had a coaching call scheduled for that day. Right before my call, I decided to give logging in one more try. I went through the same steps I had already done a dozen times, and just like that, I was back in. It’s possible that after a month of my ID and photos pinging around its system, Facebook finally approved my identity and decided to let me back in.
The greatest gift wasn't regaining access to my account; it was the return of a world that existed far beyond the screen. The battle with tech support was frustrating and futile, but the moment I surrendered my digital fight, I discovered a profound sense of peace.
The greatest gift wasn't getting my account back—it was the return of the world that existed far beyond the screen.
