I don’t watch the news
I stopped a long, long time ago, maybe in my late teens. I decided I didn’t want to know! Since then I’ve always felt a bit bad about it. Like I should know what is happening rather than being in denial and in my bubble. Recently I’ve gone back to studying the brain and started understanding more and more of the science behind how our minds work. Now I understand why I made that choice. It kept making me feel so awful I couldn’t keep doing it to myself.
Our brains are wired for survival
Basically we have an innate survival mechanism to protect ourselves. Our brains are wired for survival. So in any situation of fear we create ‘the worst case scenario’. This is so we are prepared for the worst and anything less increases our chances of survival.
That’s all well and good for emergency situations. However in this day and age where information is so readily available this survival response is maladaptive. When we focus on all the negative around us it triggers our fear. Then we continually generate all these worst case scenarios. It’s exacerbated by technology now we have immediate 24hr access to information.
Have you ever gone done the rabbit hole that is Dr Google? I literally just did a search and up pops “1/3 of Australians are convinced they have a life threatening illness because of Google searches.”
This response is no longer helping us to survive its driving anxiety and fear and the constant thought pattern of preparing for the worst. And as we focus on the negative we notice more negative because that is our filter. We are drawn to the drama of the latest news headline day after day and our brains are preparing us for the worst possible outcome should we face the same situation.
The media then sells more news as they run horror after horror. Since they are businesses they seek out more and more horrific news in order to gain a greater market share. The cycle continues…
You have all the power
But I’ve got some good news. Your brain is just wired to find the worst case scenario so if you focus on the negative, it will keep giving you more thoughts of the worst possible outcome. The media will keep giving you more of what you consume. YOU are actually the one with ALL the power.
If something makes you feel anxious, fearful, uncomfortable, bad in general. Stop looking at it, thinking about it and seeking it out.
Focus on what you want.
There is so much good news in the world, so much inspiration, seek that out and see where it takes you. As they say information is power, which means information about yourself is self empowerment. Our attention, and our time is our greatest commodity. What are you investing in?
www.positive.news
Thanks to Unsplash & Jon Tyson for the photo.