How can we feed our minds?

This week I want to talk about the way we feed our minds, the way in which we focus on what happens in the world at large, which also has an effect on our energy levels.

What do you feed your mind?

We must always be careful of the influences we allow into our lives. Our sensors take in information 24 hours a day and this information has an influence over the way we perceive the world and ourselves. We are so much more in touch with world events than we ever have been and there are very few of us who do not listen to new programmes daily. The amount of news available really has grown in proportion with the increase in international conflicts, natural disasters and the plight of people or peoples around the world. Headlines are focused on issues which, to one degree or another, we find difficult to rationalize or cope with on an emotional level.

What effect does this have on you personally?

The influx of such information presents an emotional challenge for all of us, especially those of us who are more sensitive. If we take in the information, what do we allow our minds to do with it? Do we dismiss it? Filter it out? Or do we focus on it and make it part of our personal world? ie reflect on it using our imaginations (which can be notoriously unruly) and allow it to become an emotional issue relevant to our own personal world. Do we take it a step further by imagining that we are somehow fully connected with the misfortunes of those people? No matter what we do, knowledge of such events can seriously contribute to our personal level of daily negativity and lack of energy in the form of fears and anxieties about our own safety and the safety of those we love. There is also the future of our planet to take into consideration as all those who have heard about the recently released ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ are fully aware.

How much should we protect ourselves?

Naturally all human beings are connected and the ability to identify with others’ pain demonstrates a wonderful personal trait, empathy. Yet for those of us who experience it, it can be quite damaging in our lives. Taking on the challenges of others and internalising them can result in us sinking into a very unconstructive state. If we start our day with the news, which many of us do, this state can set the tone for the entire day. This does not help us, or those around us. Indeed it creates stress which changes the chemistry in our bodies which can have long term detrimental effects, something I will address more fully at a later date. Each of us must do what we can to minimise the amount of time we spend in this way as our whole lives are affected.

How can we protect ourselves?

It may be necessary to protect ourselves by taking it in in a different form, avoiding TV reporting for example which is so much more vividly illustrated than the papers. Or at a different moment in our day, at a time when there is little opportunity for our imaginations to take over, in the middle of the day perhaps rather than first thing or last thing at night. Each of us will have their own personal ‘ideal’ time to receive negative information. Listening to more uplifting information in the morning sets a more positive tone for the day. This way we can move our focus to the lighter side of life. This shift can have a constructive effect on the way we look at the world and what feels like a hurtful and hostile one can turn into a more benevolent one. When we fall into a state of negativity we tend to forget about the good things that are going on. It really is about redressing the balance. Of course it would be much better for all of us if we were only exposed to positive things!

How will this benefit us?

Shifting our focus to more positive things builds a form of resilience in us. That way, when we do hear the more emotionally challenging news we know that the good, or easier parts of the lives of others and of their own lives are in equal proportion to the violent and/ sad ones. This gives us a feeling that there is as much good at work in the world as bad, if not more. We are responsible in our own personal world, this is where we locate our personal power and for this reason our first port of call is to support ourselves to stay in a constructive positive state by monitoring any and all the influences we allow into our lives. Remember, we are in control of our lives and we can decide how much or how little negative news we allow ourselves to see.

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