Do you find yourself depressed with the way the world is? Do you turn on the news and see nothing but how bad things are? Does thinking about the state of the world bring you down? In our world of twenty-four hour instant access to everything, we are exposed to more than ever, and think about more than ever, most of it being bad via the media.
When reading the next two words: news & information – we think of something which interests us, or will be of value to us. That is what we think, not noticing the new media definition. News rarely contains information of any real interest or importance to you personally.
Often, what passes for news and information is verbiage and video filling space between advertisements trying to sell you something. What something is depends on who pays the most for that advertising slot, the media is not overly partial.
Media networks show and tell whatever brings in the most viewers or readers. Content does not matter in the least. If content made a difference young children would not be aware of adult sexual problems, or be experts on stomach medications. Mainstream media is as content airing doom and gloom stories with children watching as it is discussing sexual diseases via commercials with those same children, as we wonder while we are unhappy with the world.
Due to a lifetime of media conditioning, we get more excited about doom and gloom with blood splattered across walls and running down streets, than we do about a feel good story. Slowly but surely without our even being aware of it, our behavior has been modified to enjoy these sights and sounds. We find more excitement in learning of some hideous crime than we do in watching a news report of a zoo, unless an animal attacks a visitor.
Some people however are bothered by what they see, read, and hear to the point it negatively effects their lives. They feel helpless, hopeless, and even depressed without realizing it is what the media badgers them with with an unending flow of bad news, and grisly sights that should upset anyone.
A solution is available, and it works. Within a few weeks you can have a happier life, with less worry and stress. All it takes is willingness to change a behavior or two. It is hard to change some behaviors, because most of the time we can not believe it is a really a problem. Until we test it out, we think it is a waste of our time. It is not until later when we look back we know the change was good.
We are too close to it to see the connection. People exposed to mass media saturation think they are too sensitive, too emotional, or too soft. The real issue is it is just too much of violence, bad news, and depressing stories. Start reducing the amount of time you read about, watch, or listen to the news. The world won’t stop because you watch less news, or read less news on the web.
People after their first week of no oppressing news start feeling better about their life, and the world in general. After three weeks, they have that extra time filled with something more important and meaningful in their life. This is good news for you. You can change your media habit, start feeling better about the world. You will also help yourself to feel better about your part of the world.
If you can’t think of anything fun to do look around your neighborhood and see what you con do to make better. Perhaps something as simple as planting a flower along the sidewalk, your favorite window, or in an empty lot. Pick up a piece of trash every day, or clean up a few feet of an empty lot. Water a weed every day if nothing else comes to mind.
Put out pieces of bread for birds to eat. Smile at someone and say hello. The act of doing anything positive to make a change is liberating. Do something small, do something others can enjoy too. You are not alone in how you feel, but now you know how to change your life in a positive way. Any and every little thing you do is enough to help you start feeling better about the world once you break the news habit.
