Puking Your Power Away
We’ve talked about this before, but we think it’s high time we brought it up again… especially since a counterpart of ours (a personal development products marketer) just sent out the following email:
“I’m not sure if you know this about me but I try to avoid watching or reading the news as much as possible. I don’t want to give focus to that which I don’t want.
“But lately I’ve felt like I haven’t been able to escape it… it’s been right in my face.
“… Negative comment after negative comment… it’s depressing!
“But the part that really disgusts me is how the media always seem to sensationalize an unfortunate situation.
“Especially in these tough economic times I don’t think it helps the way they constantly bombard us with negative hype.”
If you’re on this person’s list, you’ll know who we’re talking about; but it really doesn’t matter WHO it is, because this is such a popular stance in the spiritual-personal growth arena.
Self-help teachers, motivational speakers, and personal development authors all spout the same mind-numbed rose-colored-glasses message repeatedly (more often, it seems, than TV runs commercials, product endorsements and marketing messages): “Avoid the news like a plague, because it’s all bad stuff!”
Yikes… what a negative and limiting way to look at the world: assuming that everything you’re going to see on the news is going to be something bad. And even more so, how sad and severely counter-productive to put out the weak-willed intention that you won’t be able to handle it!
“Ooh, I can’t watch anything negative… otherwise it will make me think and do negative things that will really screw my life up!” members of the anti-news brigade say, quaking in their boots as a friend or family member dares to turn on the TV at 6:00 or 11:00 p.m., when the daily local news is being shown.
– Cont’d –
“Aaah!!! Not the news!” they cry out, shrinking like the Wicked Witch of the West after a bucket of water’s been thrown on her. (See our post here too about The Good Witch of the North).
“They’re telling me about a fire… that’s bad! Oh no, a fender bender… I don’t want to know that there’s ice on the roads, because then I’ll focus on getting in an accident! Arghh, a product recall! I don’t want to know that anything I may have purchased might be defective! Oh no, interest rates are up and so is unemployment? How can this be??? I’m melting… I’m withering away!… I’m becoming — ackk! — NEGATIVE!!! It’s DISGUSTING!”
We like to call these people News Hermits.
You know how a hermit hides away from the world? Well, News Hermits hide away from the news.
They can’t deal with the fact that somebody somewhere in the world — maybe in their own community — might have temporarily been the victim of something or other. And by avoiding hearing about it, they become victims themselves… victims of the media. Victims of the news. And victims long term, unlike the people on the news.
By becoming disgusted with what they see, hear or read, they puke their power away.
They’re essentially saying, “I’m not strong enough to watch this story and still remain strong in my convictions and integrity. The story is more powerful than I am, and I intend to keep it that way.”
This is what we said about the practice in one of our updates last year:
We’re always more than amused when we have readers who write in and throw the the whole “I’m intelligent, therefore I don’t watch TV” B.S. at us. The implication, of course, being, “I don’t, so why should you?” Usually the folks who take this EXCESSIVE action do it because they don’t have the internal wherewithal, nor the mental fortitude, to discipline themselves to watch selectively. There’s a reason there’s a channel selector; there’s a reason there are hundreds of channels for hundreds of interests. Yet, the “TV is Beyond Me” droids don’t get that.
It’s no different than the person who continually signs off as “Namaste,” using it as a protective mechanism that also makes the person feel bigger than they are… with a sense of importance over the rawness and frailties of life.
This post is for those of our readers who “get” that it’s not TV that’s the problem. TV, instead (and depending on which SHOW you have the power to watch or not watch), is a medium for showing the mindset of the masses in the grandest ways possible.
How about this point of view: It’s wonderful that the majority of stories on the news are what some people tend to label “negative”, because that’s what makes the cut as “newsworthy” for the day in the first place.
“Newsworthy” is anything unique or out of the ordinary that affects your life… if it happens a lot, it’s not newsworthy. As an example, when one person in a city of 600,000 gets mugged, that’s news, because it’s only .00016% of the population that it happened to. The fact that millions of people had a great day today is not news, because it’s the norm everywhere; the day that people having a good time becomes news is the day we know the world is in a really bad place!
Besides, there are plenty of so-called “positive” feel-good stories also covered in the news — people helping people, volunteering time and energy, getting together for a common goal, etc.
But hey, look… even if the puppet masters have an agenda to show you as much negativity as possible, to break down your willpower the way a cowboy tames a wild horse, you’ve only let them win if you refuse to watch the news.
That’s admitting that “they” and their agenda are more powerful than you!
Of course, it goes without saying that we’re not recommending you spend hours and hours each day consuming media or watching TV (the “electronic income reducer”), regardless of what it is you choose to take in. Everything in excess can be detrimental.
We just believe wholeheartedly that taking a stand and refusing to hide from the goings-on in the world around you is much healthier than living in fear, or feeling like you need to censor your experience of life by avoiding certain aspects of it.
Feel free to comment below…
Your Partners in the Quest For
Living a Life Without Limits,
P.S. By the way, read our report titled “The Catch 22 of Financial Wealth” yet?
Filed under: Critical-Thinking, NEWS, Personal Responsibility
Thank you for a great piece of very important information. This is a great attitude to have towards the world we live in. We can have compassion [ awareness ] towards those of us that are experiencing mis-fortune whilst we are rejoicing in the good of our lives. This is the way of the world we live in.
Finally, some [ intended awareness on ] negative thinking!
I’ve NEVER been convinced of “positive thinking” – –
In most cases, this is just a nice phrase, in practice, a form of denial – –
I once did a course by Anthony Robbins: he said
This is NOT a course about positive thinking, this is NOT a course about denial!
Later, he said he didn’t believe in going around, looking in his garden and saying “there’s no weeds, there’s no weeds, there’s no weeds!”
Donald Trump says that he believes in Positive Thinking, BUT he also believes in Negative thinking; ie business taught him that ruthless people exist and will take your money etc
Positive thinking is ONE thing, but ignoring the disasters that take place in this world is nothing but severe selfishness in my opinion!
React to BOTH positive and negative forces, when you come across them, in my opinion – –
Hello,
Do agree with the point you made about being strong enough to filter out the good from the bad on TV, and not become a hermit from the world around us.
If we are all energy beings, then we need to work to change the vibrations of the people and events around us by sending out good thoughts and not let negative events bring us down.
Personally, I would rather curl up with a good book rather than watch the idiot box.
[ Barry’s Reply ]: Yeah, we hear ya John. Reading a good book — one that entertains, educates, inspires, and enlivens – is a damn good experience.
Yet, sticking with the context and one of the main points of our above article: it doesn’t mean that T.V. (or even certain NEWS) can’t do the same thing either.
While we’re not huge fans of the Electronic Income Reducer either (what you call the Idiot Box), keep in mind, you have the power to watch what you want. While we give the T.V. snidish names, really it’s not the T.V.s responsibility to change the channel for you 🙂
And, in regards to so-called “good-thoughts,” I’ll just step aside and pass on the torch to what Andre said above…
Thanks Barry and Heather.
You are right. I did not watch TV or read newspapers for a long time, and soon I realized I was feeling fear all the time.
Now I know I can make choices in every area of my life.
Heather & Barry
This is a great post. Finally someone who gets it.
You are right about the “100% Positive Thinking” motivational gurus having their head in the sand about never watching the news.
I buy & read the Chicago Tribune everyday. I want to know what’s going on in the world – good & bad.I still have high expectations for myself regardless of the news.
Awhile back I read about a married couple who moved away from a large city to remote area of Idaho so they could get away from “crime”. They said they do not have TV / Radio & never read the newspaper to avoid any news.
They said had great careers in city & good income,but then made decision to become self sustaining but barely surviving farmers + also doing odd jobs. They said “We’re happier now cause we avoid all bad news”. ( Bull ! )
I live in Chicago which is an absolute great city, but LOL, am thinking about dropping everything to move to the Yukon and raise penguins. All bad news must be avoided! (Not) 🙂
Nick
Thanks for this empowering perspective. I don’t own a TV anymore but I do have a computer. I find that news still finds me – while I’m surfing or while I’m talking with friends and family or just out in the world. I used to try to avoid the news because it did leave me feeling yuckky and, often, like a pawn or powerless.
As I’ve been embracing the concept of 100% responsibility, I’m realizing that anything that I create that shows up in the news, is an opportunity to look within and clear the thinking that created it.
When I see news of war, I can look within to see where I’m in conflict. When I get news of the recession, I can look at where I’ve been contracting and shrinking away. When I hear of death, I can check in to see where I am not embracing life. That’s empowering stuff. When my mind reflects something back to me through the news (or any other interaction I have with life throughout the day), I am being given a gift of choosing what I will allow to flow through me without giving it energy or what I will clean up within myself. I’m not quite ready to intentionally seek the “negative” so I can get on with consciously releasing it, but I’m no longer trying to hide from it either.
[Heather’s REPLY]:
Wow, Sharon… you’re not puking your power away. Rather, it seems to me that you’re on an all-encompassing power trip that has you personally creating everything that happens in the world!
But let’s reel this in a bit here, so we don’t have to call the Ho’oponopono Police. 😉
First, I suggest that you read our previous post (one of the most popular of all time on this blog) called “Are You a Responsibility Addict?”
I know that you’ve been given those ideas from studying Ho’oponopono and other related questionable teachings that tell you you’re responsible for absolutely everything. And I know that you’re a fan of Louise Hay, who taught us that we’re responsible for creating the illnesses we get. But while I accept that Louise may be right to a degree (it actually makes more sense that it’s a combination of inner and outer criteria that affects our health — our emotions, beliefs etc. AND outside necessary factors, such as a virus or hereditary disorder), the belief that you create everything just because you see it happen reeks of woo-woo crackpot snake oil (yes, that snake oil really STINKS!)
You say: “When I see news of war, I can look within to see where I’m in conflict. When I get news of the recession, I can look at where I’ve been contracting and shrinking away. When I hear of death, I can check in to see where I am not embracing life.”
So by your model, if I see news footage of the war in Iraq, I created the war by being in conflict. Therefore, if someone else, who is totally at peace with themselves, watches the same news program, do they see a different story? Do they hear the same reporter say, “The war is over,” rather than “the war is raging on?”
If we believe that science fiction is entirely rooted in truth, then perhaps we could believe that the holographic field we’re living in is so complex that two people can experience completely opposite world events based on their own inner feelings and personal actions… but then, how could those two people carry on a conversation? How could they discuss the news or world events, or even personal stories like a relative dying?
I can just see it now: “Wow, pretty cool that the war ended, huh?” “What? Are you nuts? It’s still going on!” “No, it’s not, it’s over…” And before you know it, one of them — whichever one disagrees with what the psychiatrist that’s called in thinks — is carted off to the loony bin.
Well, gee, Sharon, doesn’t that seem just a tad convoluted to you? If we’re all living in completely different realities, where one of us sees that Britain is now ruled by Queen Diana (after all, according to your logic, it’s possible that Princess Di didn’t die to the person who is embracing life) and another sees that the monarchy has been dismantled, while a third sees that Queen Elizabeth II still has the throne (that’s what I see… what about you?) then how could any of us have coherent relationships with each other?
I’m glad you’re feeling empowerment from your news-watching exercises, but maybe it’s time to step back and put things in perspective.
Maybe taking on too much responsibility for everything that happens in the world is just as bad as hiding in the sand and ignoring it.
Good luck with your ongoing journey!
Bravo!
You accentuate our ability to make our own choices using Free Will. We are more than Mind, Body & Spirit in action.
We are the pioneers of the new era. Wisdom
and reflection enable us to make better decisions.
Thank You!
I do not know what others are watching, but do not kill your t.v….the history channel and the planet earth shows are phenomenal!!! I will never get to travel to some of these amazing places on earth.
Also, there are some amazing talk shows that will educate. I agree with your message: we do not need to put our heads in sand or kill the t.v…
Just learn how to use your remote and teach your children to use it wisely too!
p.s. I do think horror on the movies is emotional pollution…I would like to join the anti-horror advocate movement.. it has no value except sensationalism.
Right on! I too have had a problem with the idea of don’t watch t.v. because it “makes me feel bad”.
Well if seeing pictures of starving kids with bloated bellies in 3rd world countries makes you feel bad, imagine how those kids feel. How would you feel in their shoes?
All those negative emotions are a call to action. Anger, sadness etc. are sending us a message that something is wrong and we need to DO something about it, not turn our backs on that situation and let things deteriorate.
If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Ignoring injustice, corruption, bloodshed and the suffering of others makes you a part of the problem…you are allowing it to continue…you are allowing it to be the default position.
Positive is a good thing, but not to the point of stupidity. It needs to be grounded in reality. Unfortunately, there are a lot of negative and “bad” things in the world. That is our reality whether we like it or not. Ignoring those things will not make them go away.
We can do something about it, or stick our heads in the sand, so we can be “nice” and “feel good” about ourselves. It is our choice, and that choice determines what kind of human being we really are.
have a fabulous day everyone
Irene
Hi – great viewpoint and I agree wholeheartedly. I met the chap known as “Bananaman” who had been watching the news about an young boy whose mother had died of Aids and his father was dying.
He said ‘God why don’t you do something?’ being upset and heard back ‘Why don’t you?’ – within six days he had gone to Zululand. (www.BananaAppeal.org).
He has helped so many children since then – all from a watching TV documentary. Imagine how much good will come out of the problems in Haiti???
Wow Heather,
Poor choice of words on my part. Thanks for reminding me about the necessity of precision when using the written word. What I meant was that when I take 100% responsibility for the experiences that I attract into my awareness, it’s an opportunity for me to look within. I don’t believe for a minute that I as an individual created the war in Iraq. As you pointed out, that would be absurd. But I, and many others, have a conditioned belief in war and attack as a means to settle disagreements. Any time I attract awareness of conflict on a grand or a small scale, I have the opportunity to clear that belief from my consciousness and choose a different way to respond.
I have read Zero Limits and my own understanding of it is that it is a process of erasing from our conscious and subconscious mind (lower self) any data (beliefs) that take us out of alignment with Divinity (and awareness of our Higher Self). My experience of it so far is that it changes me and who I understand myself to be. As I change, I change how I interact with my environment. That is where I get my empowerment from watching the news. Did I create the war in Iraq? No. But as I respond to the news of it, I begin to clean up the conflicts in me. Then I attract less conflict and I also project less conflict and the world is a less-conflicted place. My personal belief is that as Dr. Hew Len cleaned up within himself the shadows that were being reflected to him in the files of his patients, it changed who he was and how he interacted with the people in his environment. That then allowed them to act differently. I don’t know if that’s how he would explain it but it’s what makes sense to me.
Just for the record, I believe in duality and non-duality, a personal reality and even a shared reality that our human selves experience and a shared reality that our Higher Selves experience. Just because I don’t hear about something that happened to my friend Jane doesn’t mean that it’s not part of her personal reality. It’s just not part of mine, until she tells me about it and we share it. Even then we will still have different perceptions of what happened and what it means. Just ask four people who witness the same accident. Still, when Jane tells me about what happened to her, I have a chance to look at why our Higher Selves chose for us to share that experience. Was I there for her benefit or was she there for mine? Or was it just an opportunity for our souls to connect?
Thanks Heather, and Barry, for what you contribute to what we are learning about how to live more fully. I didn’t create you, but I’m sure glad I attracted you into my awareness.
[Heather’s REPLY]:
Okay, well that makes a lot more sense!
One thing we’re all learning, with this medium of the internet as opposed to traditional media like print, TV and radio, is that it’s easy for anyone to write something and have it published immediately… and as a result, many things are published that may not be given the same level of thought as would happen with traditional media, all of which generally have a process of checks and balances in place.
And while the writer always knows exactly what he or she means, the reader can only interpret what’s actually in print.
Since we deal with this every day, we constantly have to make sure that what we mean is coming across, at least darned close to what we meant to say. But we have each other to bounce it off to make sure that’s the case, and commenters don’t often have that same luxury.
So, glad you came back with the clarification — thanks for that!
I still don’t believe that because I turned the channel to the news at the moment they were covering a war, and hence “attracted awareness” of it, it means I have an internal conflict of some sort. I think sometimes, it’s just a matter of @$%& happens, and we just happen to witness it or not.
But I respect the way the belief, for you, is giving you a tool to examine yourself, so more power to you! 😉
There is power in optimism. There is dark power in denial.
I think the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi teaches a lot:
“God grant me the COURAGE to change the things I can,
the SERENITY to accept things I cannot,
and the WISDOM to know the difference.”
He did not pray,”Lord, keep me away form the depressing news!”
Fact is, I know a lot of stories about people who saw GREAT opportunities in “bad news.” Would it be safe that a great majority of great opportunities were born out of bad situations?
Namaste!
Your article touches me. Because I have come to the same knowing. You must train your brain to take in what’s good for you and leave out what isn’t. Turning away from negative thing’s leaves you with no place to turn. Looking and finding the positive in everything, opens up doors, windows and garages.
I also want to take the time to express that the most important thing in our lives are our growth. We have more control over everything than we think. But it means we take the first step in knowing ourselves.
Hi,
Refreshing. The premise that nothing exists until we put our attention on it, and then disappears once we withdraw it, is just ego centric. I am pretty sure that the remote parts of the Amazon exist even the parts that no human has even seen, much less created by their focused attention.
Most folks can remain in ignorant bliss if everything and everyone around them are complying with their idea of being and acting positive. That takes no moral fiber at all. Maintaining a positive attitude (not necessarily all positive thoughts, certainly not all positive feelings), compassion, courage and integrity in the face of tragedy, conflict, abusive actions and fearful situations, is a person that has character.
The notion that an individual can control every aspect of his life, circumstances, and outcomes is not only an illusion but is motivated by fear at the prospect of dealing with life on life’s terms.
And finally, the claim that everyone creates their own circumstances, suffering, illness, poverty, abuse, etc. so they are responsible for rescuing themselves, is a wonderful justification for apathy, judgment, a sense of superiority, and the right for elitist separation from the “mediocre mindset of the masses”.
We can empower ourselves to change our life and our circumstances to an amazing degree. Our attitude affects our perception and motivation. Our perception affects our thoughts and feelings. Our intentions change our character. And together they can transform our personal experience. And it is our experience, much more than our situation that affects the quality of our lives.
Lauren
At the risk of being accused of having my head in the sand… I understand you are saying you have the choice to watch the news or change the channel, and if you do watch the news you have the choice as to how you let it affect you.
I would respectfully suggest that if you do choose to watch bad news you are affected on a sub-conscious level and it will affect you even if you make a conscious effort to not let it affect you.
Large companies understand this and that is why they advertise. If they can repeat a message over and over it affects people on a subconscious level to the point that they purchase without realizing why.
If you watch bad news day after day it will affect you via your subconscious – what you feed on…
So I agree that everyone has the choice to change the channel but it is my opinion that you are much better off not watching bad news – it will affect you. Even if you are watching something that only affects 0.0016 percent of the population I would suggest it affects a much larger percentage than that because bad news repeated will affect everyone who compliantly watches.
Regards,
Steve
[ Barry’s Reply ] – Steve, here’s a mind gripper to try on for size: The more you focus on pushing aside (repressing) your own feelings of fear, anger, or anxiety; the more you spend too much energy trying to shield yourself from (ignore) anything “outside of you” that is controversial, negative, or emotionally/mentally shocking, the more likely you’ll be constantly hanging out in Munchkinland.
For more Wizard of Oz Wisdom, click here…
Or, another idea: Take a DEEP breath, set aside your powerless notion that “bad news” will (and can) permanently affect your psyche and greater common-sense, and actually step into the land of the unknown by reading what some of your fellow LWL readers above have already pointed out in regards to attempting to erroneously shield yourself from the rawness and realness of life.
Thank you for the article … it helps a lot.
I thought I’m losing my mind .. because my work have to do with exposing to the media. and it is true that news is negative, and I’ve been sad seeing kids getting killed in wars. but I always found that ignoring news and focusing on my own happiness not helping, thought it seems is what all I need.
But now I realize its not the news that makes me negative .. it is ignoring and acting as nothing is hapening around that make me feel hopeless.
Actually news make me more empathy and compassion. make my feelings move and my energy warm up . these feeling make me think of solutions, of what I can do. because I can’t help it but to feel that I am part of all, and that I am connected to everyone and everything. and my true happiness is when I share it.
thank you again.
Arwa
Howard Beale: [laughing to himself] But, man, you’re never going to get any truth from us. We’ll tell you anything you want to hear; we lie like hell. We’ll tell you that, uh, Kojak always gets the killer, or that nobody ever gets cancer at Archie Bunker’s house, and no matter how much trouble the hero is in, don’t worry, just look at your watch; at the end of the hour he’s going to win. We’ll tell you any shit you want to hear. We deal in *illusions*, man! None of it is true! But you people sit there, day after day, night after night, all ages, colors, creeds… We’re all you know. You’re beginning to believe the illusions we’re spinning here. You’re beginning to think that the tube is reality, and that your own lives are unreal. You do whatever the tube tells you! You dress like the tube, you eat like the tube, you raise your children like the tube, you even *think* like the tube! This is mass madness, you maniacs! In God’s name, you people are the real thing! *WE* are the illusion! So turn off your television sets. Turn them off now. Turn them off right now. Turn them off and leave them off! Turn them off right in the middle of the sentence I’m speaking to you now! TURN THEM OFF…
[collapses in a prophetic swoon as the audience erupts in thunderous applause] Film: Network (1976)
[Heather’s REPLY]:
And of course, the real joke is that WE are illusions too, in the big picture of life… and in that context, researching information from another illusion doesn’t seem as crazily over-dramatic as Howard presented it.
News = propaganda = indoctrination – News is no more factual than the X factor.
__
As a member of the media covering the tragedy in Haiti, it’s with a sense of alarm and astonishment that I’ve witnessed how some senior aid officials have argued for withholding aid of the utmost urgency because of sensational claims about violence and insecurity, which appear to be based more on fantasy than reality.
More
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/20/haiti-aid-agency-security
______
“That’s admitting that “they” and their agenda are more powerful than you!” – er… they are.
[Heather’s REPLY]:
“They” are if you let them be… but they’re completely ineffectual if you see through the facade and don’t let it rule your life.
Well I don’t watch the news On Purpose. It doesn’t have anything to do with hiding from what’s going on out there, good or bad. The horrible truth is, I don’t care that much. (OH no, did I say that outloud?) Perhaps saying “I don’t care” is a little strong.. but
I believe that what is necessary for me to know will find me.
And it does. If it is really important, I will know within minutes. For example when 9 11 happened I knew lickety split from friends on that side of the country. Then I made a choice to turn on the tube.
If I want to know what the weather is, I walk outside and look. lol
I don’t believe that our news is anywhere near what is really happening most of the time, so I don’t waste my time watching their “story telling”. I do on occasion go out to some of my favorite websites who report on political issues, and / health & nutrition concerns to get what I feel is more truthful reporting, and then I send out harmonic messages to the universal mind. (wink)
Do I think that we must stay attuned to what is happening out there? You bet, otherwise we may wake up in a completely socialistic society and say: How’d that happen?
Oh wait,, how did that happen??
How can we have choices if we aren’t paying attention? How can we have power if we believe there is nothing we can do about “that” anyway.. that is called; You are what you believe.. and if you believe you can’t, well then, you can’t .. you powerless hunk of blob… I, for one refuse to be put into that box.
hmmm. It seems I have gone a rant. Great blog! Thanks
Cheers!
Liz
[Heather’s REPLY]:
Well, if you truly “don’t care” about other people, or even what you can learn from what’s happening to them, or how big picture events are going to touch your own little life, then that’s one thing…
But it seems like what you’re really saying is you DON’T avoid the news, you just choose to get it from alternative sources. OK, cool. That’s a different story. You’re fortunate to have a close-knit network of friends who will keep you up to date on things, too, which not everybody has.
As for the weather thing, I would have to assume you live somewhere where the weather doesn’t change an awful lot from one hour to the next, so that going out to look “now” would give you a good indication of what it will be like “later” too… or that you never go outside for more than a few minutes at a time, so it really doesn’t matter.
When it comes to making a difference though, it depends whether you’re talking about taking things into your own hands and DOING something, which is great… or just voting for a certain political candidate, which probably doesn’t pull much weight if we have puppet masters truly running the world.
Thanks for the comment!
cheers
Heather
I agree with the gentleman reporting for Haiti the media are generally more powerful it’s naive to the point of offensive to say that you should spend time time watching the news in order to strengthen your own mental resolve. This stuff bombards you 24 hours aday relentlessly with extreme prejudice you can be innoculated against it to some degree but for most people they are products of this electronic artificial enviornment and you need to unplug yourself so you can feel what it’s like not be f@kn puppetron. Once you can feel you’re authentic self you should build upon it then when you’re strong enough you download you’re self back into the game for whatever agenda. And what’s wrong with Munchkinland Walt Disney bankrupted himself Seven times so he could get there
[Heather’s REPLY]:
Paul, through your rambling run-on sentences, I THINK I gathered what you’re trying to say… and it seems to be based on a misinterpretation of the article.
We never SAID “you should spend time time watching the news in order to strengthen your own mental resolve.”
Anything taken to the extreme can have detrimental effects, including things that are supposed to be good for you.
Red wine, when sipped in moderation, can have health benefits, but if you drink a bottle a day, you’ll more likely end up with a pickled liver. Eating a bushel of apples a day is also going to cause problems, even if one apple a day DOES keep the doctor away.
So what I’m saying is that the world is not black-and-white, with things being either “good” or “bad” for you. Almost everything has its balance of yin and yang, just like the universe as a whole.
The only thing we said is not to refuse to watch the news out of fear… because it’s letting the fear win, taking away your personal power, and leaving you in a dark hole as to what’s going on in the world around you. That’s not the same as saying you should take time to watch it to strengthen your mental resolve.
As for the “Disney in Munchkinland” reference, I just don’t get what you’re trying to say there, so I won’t address it.
cheers
Heather
What I hate about news broadcasts, whether on TV or other mediums, is the pushing of matters that have already been proven false or deadly, ( such as stains for everything under the sun) and the continual use of the sources that are out-of-touch with actual events —- like what they are reporting is NEWS when in fact, it happened months ago and has been discounted by reputable sources already!
Sometimes on our news broadcasts here in New Zealand, I hear about things that are weeks old, and have done the rounds through the internet, but are somehow touted now as BREAKING NEWS !
When I say to others that ‘that guff is weeks or months old’, I am once again rubbished for believing more happily in the internet items I get sent to me, than the junk the TV /radio puts out night after night. ! I too have wide sources of information to draw upon, and it is brilliant.
I am not against watching TV at all, I just think people should use better judgement and actually THINK about what they are seeing/hearing, before blindly accepting whatever is thrown at them by ‘the tube’ and it’s masters!
If you are moved to take action by something you see/hear, then by all means do it. The source of the catalyst does not matter! What matters is that you have thought about it all and decided you can do something to make a difference, whether large or small.
To blindly believe in whatever is told to you by others is a stupid use of the brain we were all given to use, and all you end up being, is a scared creature afraid of your own shadow and incapable of trying anything new in case it bites you!
Some news items are sad and really affect everyone such as the Boxing Day tsunami, Haiti’s earthquake and various other events, including Lady Diana’s death, and it is amazing to see how people from all over the world suddenly decide to try to help or simply do SOMETHING ! No matter what! They just have a real need to TRY to help! To encourage others or simply lend a shoulder to cry on, or shift piles of rubble with their bare hands!
Surely we can all benefit from knowing what is going on around us, whether close to us or not, otherwise how can we be warned about matters that will affect out daily lives such as national ID cards, airport scanners and their dangers, changes to traffic rules, new schools opening up etc, etc, etc.
We cannot function in a vacuum. We were not created to live that way! Very boring that’s for sure. Might as well sleep all day and never see the sun or the moon!
Not for me! I’d rather be open to all sorts of things and ideas and discuss these with others so we all grow and extend our minds and thinking. And hopefully, have a lot of fun in the process.
from Cheryl
How well a person avoids, denies and hide from negative situations is not the measure of their spiritual or positive mindset.
A positive mindset is demonstrated by maintaining a positive attitude in spite of negative situations. And then making an appropriate choice.