I don’t tune into the local or national news on a daily basis. When this issue comes up in conversation, people ask me if I fear being out of touch with what is happening. I have no fear of being out of touch – I do however, have a fear of being contaminated by one perspective – one that is about ratings and sensationalism, neither of which will equip me to deal with the day or the people I meet or the people who count on my skills to be of productive benefit to them.
It is not about being ignorant to world events or at all cavalier about what is current – it is however, about being tuned into another level of what is happening and tuning in. I tune in about once a week to hear recaps – that’s sufficient.
Each day I have contact with a wide range of people around the country, all of whom are facing various challenges and looking for how to be healthful in the midst of it – whether it is an intellectual, political, health, education, marital, community, national, local, global, familial, or business issue. I need to be available in heart, mind, and spirit to be of meaningful assistance. So do you! We never want our professional resources distracted; it’s not good practice. And so goes it with regard to teachers and parents and whoever else is tuned into the daily news broadcast.
If you hear about gloom and doom, how can you possibly be free to embrace the beauty right before you in the moment? You need to be available – open to see what is there, not off in another dimension of what happened elsewhere. It is that very distraction factor that causes us to be off in the way in which we interact with others – and that produces fear, anxiety, and resentment………because of the ways in which it is then interpreted. You know this, you have experienced it.
We owe it to our immediate audience to be right there — present, available, and receptive to them – daily. The news is a vehicle upon which we get swept away into a land of a partial story, subjective truth, and sensational headlines. No offense to the news community but – cut it out!
America is already depressed, bummed out, embarrassed, and feeling low self esteem. That’s not who we are. We are Americans – proud, strong, smart, resourceful, and creative. We are the global entrepreneurs. News about foreclosures and job loss and unemployment and bankruptcy have hurt our national self image and it is time to rise up and do something positive and productive about it – all of it!
Each one of us has an inner strength that is alive, deep without us…..we simply need to tune in and listen. Listen to the voice that is your conscience, your strength, your right from wrong, your lineage of wisdom. Don’t be defeated by the news of the day or the week or the month or the year – make the news what you dream about in a positive manner – be productive, be kind, be generous. Every person has a good idea about how to make America better, their community more safe and honest, their family happier and more healthful. Focus on it, make it a reality, turn your good thinking into practice. Map out your dream and list the detailed steps and make it happen — allow goodness.
Instead of tuning into the news for the bad news, tune into a channel of love and strength, positive ideas, beautiful music, and great feelings………do it for 3 days and see what happens.
