These days, I am laughing a lot at news headlines that tell me I should be scared. I know I am supposed to get stressed, but I have become aware of their tricks and I just find it very funny.
Here’s the backstory. I used to be addicted to the news. I mean I would read every article from every media outlet from every angle I could get my hands on. I was in a constant state of stress, anxiety, and conflict with everyone and everything. I was arguing with friends and family like I was on the debate team. And as you can probably guess, it didn’t change a single person’s opinion.
Then, I went into the middle of a New Zealand forest by myself for 50 days to meditate. This was when my life really changed. I no longer read the news as if I were a journalist investigating journalism. I was able to reflect on why I was compulsively running away from the present moment and straight into the most negative stories on Earth.
My time away, above all, gave me perspective. I realized that news stories, for the most part, are jump-to-conclusion, hyperactive, doomsday prophecies. I was negative and so I was drawn to their negativity. I was worried so I fed on their endless supply of it.
The truth is, there are no conclusions, there is no ending, there is no finality. The world spins on. There is only change. Nothing ever stays the same for very long. If the stock market goes down 2 percent, the news acts like the Great Depression is coming. Maybe it is. Maybe it isn’t. One thing is for certain though, they are definitely trying with all their might to create a panic.
So keep an eye out for headlines like these designed to make you afraid:
_______ Is on the Brink of Collapse
_______ Could Be Threatened
Beware of Higher/More/Less/Lower __________
________ Happened. Here Is Why You Should Be Worried
Fear Grips the Nation
Worrying Signs of _________
Could This Be the End of __________ as We Know It?
Here’s a few real examples I saw recently that made me laugh:
One of the World’s Biggest Mega-Malls Is Worryingly Empty
The Prospect of War Has Turned Europe into a Continent of Preppers
They seem a bit like exaggerations to me. Just one mall? I’m sure the mall developers will be OK. I’m sure not all of Europe is bunkering down. The news likes to find a few scared or angry people and then write a story on it like the whole world is freaking out and why you should too. Don’t let them. Scale back, skim the headlines, or take a news fast if you find yourself compulsively checking the news. I promise the world’s problems will still be there for you when you come back.
Ask yourself, “What does the news provide me? How much of the news do I actually remember? How much is useful information and how much is harmful? Can I scale back? Am I checking due to boredom and escapism, or for an actual need? Does it make me happy and add value to my life and relationships?”
The fact is, the more we read, the less informed we may actually be. Our minds are easily implanted with other people’s opinions. Are these enlightened journalists who care about my wellbeing and mental state, or do they want to scare me for clicks?
We do not have to tune into the neverending narrative of the media. We do not need to jump into every argument and story. What is happening in your neighborhood and in your presence is just as important, if not more important, than what’s happening around the world. So don’t forget to look up and take it in. It’s a big beautiful, peaceful, loving world; you just wouldn’t know it from the news.
Much love,
Todd
P.S. Here are a few other topics that I covered this week:
- How to Heal From Denial and Emotional Pain (Listen Here)
2. 8 Hours of Pure Bliss and Healing Wisdom (Watch Here)
