It is easy, in times of crises and fear, to get consumed by news and information. When we feel unsettled about what’s to come and what could come for us and our families we seek answers. In this day and age we have access to information 24/7 from a variety of different sources and from varying opinions, some real, some not. And especially during this time of lockdowns and quarantines most of us have nothing but time to dive into the information rabbit hole. But what is the result of that? It is important to stay informed, to know the facts and to prepare ourselves, as much as we can, for what may come and give ourselves the best chance if things become more difficult in the future. Information is good, as long as we are balancing that out with other things and not forgetting to live life by acknowledging those around us, giving ourselves what we need to stay healthy, both mentally and physically and taking time away from the news and give ourselves a break.
In the past, before I began to walk this road, in situations of national security or tragedy I would allow myself to get consumed by it, and in doing so I would be overwhelmed with fear or grief. I would tell myself I had to know the facts, to consume as much news and social media as I could to calm my fears, but they only flamed the flames and the deeper I got into it the more paralyzed I felt and the more I was neglecting other things in my life. For me, my head on its own will head down into darkness, I work, every day to keep myself in the light, and if I allow myself to get consumed by negative news and fear-based information that negative part of my brain kicks in and if I don’t find some balance it’s off the races dragging me down into the dark. We all can find what we’re looking out there, in the news, the internet, social media, our perception of things, the stories we seek out and the people we choose to communicate with all play into what the story or energy we’re looking to give power to. If we’re looking for negative we’ll only see negative and if we’re looking for positive, we’ll pass by the negative and seek out positive content. We see what want to see. That’s why it’s so important to find balance, check-in with ourselves and find accountability within our daily lives so we’re not swaying too far one way. For me, I limit how much content I am consuming and then require that I do things that feed my mind, body and spirit, and when I stick to that formula I give myself a recipe to be my best self.
In this 24-hour news era it is easy to get consumed by the information being sent our way, but just because it’s there doesn’t mean we have to let it take over our lives. Find the balance in your life and look for moments to turn the TV off, put the phone down, or fold up the paper and go engage with life, go feed your spirit and go find that dose of positivity in your day. Information should be just that, a tool to help you make the best decisions for your and your family, not a way of life. Find the formula that allows you to stay informed and stay in balance. SLAY on
SLAY OF THE DAY: Do you get consumed by the events of our times? How does this affect your life? How does it affect it negatively? How can you stop it from happening? What can you do today to change that behavior? How does it feed your fear? How does that harm you? What can you do today to find some balance? Looking back at other world events, crises or health threats, is there a pattern of this behavior? Where do you think it comes from? What can you do to stop it? It’s easy to find ourselves glued to our screens during a major event, but find some time away from those screens to give yourself what you need to be your best self, the news will still be there when you get back.
S – self L – love A – appreciate Y – you
State Of Slay™ 