The onslaught of bad news in the media continues to fester. The climate of fear has reached epic proportions. We are inundated with bad news about our crumbling economy, the rising unemployment rate, executive greed, lack of affordable healthcare, etc. So the question is how can YOU stay positive and productive in a relentlessly negative climate and NOT drink the Armageddon Kool Aid?
Well, as you may have guessed, I have a few ideas.
Less is More when it comes to the all news all the time from CNN, Fox, etc. You can stay informed without becoming saturated with bad news. Limit your daily news intake. Choose to read your news online so you can control what and how much goes into your consciousness. Frequent sites that are positive in what they report, like Odewire News for Intelligent Optimists or Happy News-Real News.
Avoid Negative People (aka Misery Loves Company crowd). While trying to keep a positive attitude, you must avoid people who thrive on negativity. You know who they are and how they love to tell you all about their horrible marriage, thankless job, bitchy best friend, etc. Be firm about not being a dumping ground for their unhappiness and respectfully decline invitations to spend time with them. Surround yourself with people who are uplifting, feed you emotionally, and are good listeners.
Pay it Forward. When you feel negative or overwhelmed, reach out and do something nice for someone else. Being generous in words and actions creates positive feelings for you, the doer, AND the receiver. Generosity towards others gets your endorphins flowing.
Serious Self Care. Taking seriously good care of yourself is crucial to your happiness. This includes what you eat, drink, think, how much you move your body, and how much you rest. Walk, stretch, do yoga. If you really want to let go of some anger, try kickboxing or running. Choose whatever you enjoy and will actually do on a regular basis. Be mindful of what you are eating and drinking. Studies prove that consuming lots of caffeine, sugar, animal fat, and alcohol equals feeling like crap. On the other hand, ingesting lots of veggies, fruits, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and H2O equals feeling energized and good. Make sleep and rest a priority. Commit to a regular meditation practice – even as little as 5 – 10 minutes a day is enough to calm the mind and flex your mindfulness muscle.
Become a Silver Lining Detective. Part of your job on planet earth is to figure out what you are here to learn. Every challenging situation is an opportunity to learn something valuable about yourself. When times are stressful, instead of reacting, panicking, or future tripping about what could happen, try to step out of the storm long enough to become the observer. Being an observer keeps you in a calm, slightly detached place, which helps you become more solution-oriented.
Affirm What You Want in Your Life. Take responsibility for what you hold in your mind. As my favorite manifesting guru, Mike Dooley, would say, “Thoughts become things…choose the good ones!” Keeping a positive attitude and seeing the glass half full is a habit. It takes 21 days for a behavior to become a habit. So, are you willing to police your mind for negative or catastrophic thoughts for 21 days? Here is all you need for the experiment. Get a rubber band and place it on your wrist. Whenever you recognize a negative thought or fear, snap the rubber band hard enough to smart but not hard enough to bruise. This moment of discomfort will yank you back to the present. You have the choice to reject what you fear MAY happen and immediately replace it with an affirmation of what you WANT to happen, while conjuring the feelings of already having it. If you commit to 21 days of changing what you hold in your mind, I have no doubt that your stress will decrease, and your joy will increase.
I hope some of these ideas resonate with you enough to try them. Remember what you hold in your mind is what you create in your life. So look for positive stories of people doing good work in the world and pay it forward in your words and deeds.
I hope you have a week filled with good news, and, as always, take care of you.
Love love love
Terri
This is so true, sooo much bad news and they keep playing it over and over and over!
Terri, I appreciate you so much. Your suggestions resonate with me. When I hear people speak of doom and gloom, I think to myself, “Even if the worst were to happen, what I want to hoard and arm myself to ensure my survival?” We’re here for relationship with each other, and my desire is to be an encouragement. You model that love for others, and I’m grateful for that!
Randy
Randy,
Thank you for your comment. I choose LOVE over FEAR as much and as often as I can-sounds like you do too! I am glad you are here with us <3
Many Thanks for posting Don’t Drink the Armageddon
Kool Aid!, I had been searching for anything
similar and was happy to discover the info from this content.
Thanks so much for this post!!
I’ve not had TV since 1989. I stopped all newspapers in 1996 (the year my son was born). My husband gives me news articles he knows would interest me and I go online to do further research if I choose. I subscribe to a few news sources but for the most part keep news to a minimum.
Although this has been my path for many years, I am actively involved in ocean conservation. Because of this I receive information about the Fukushima reactors (I am set to do marine debris analysis for the NOAA). The dismal news is challenging and sometimes overwhelming for me especially because I’m concerned about the world we’re leaving to our kids. I do daily beach walks, hike and kayak which helps me stay in touch with nature. However, I’m finding that I’m feeling increasingly anxious about our overall apathetic attitude regarding the state of the environment. How do I balance my work and my anxiety and still remain effective in my work?
Darris,
I understand the difficulty with balancing your inner peace and a mother’s concern for our world. I strike the balance myself with daily meditation, yoga and exercise 4 to 5 times a week, no drugs or alcohol and focusing as much as possible on what is RIGHT at this moment in my life and our world. I hope that helps 😉 Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment.
love love love
terri
Yes, you are right, in general. Still, some tragic life stories make me love and appreciate my life even more.
Me too Vladimir. I don’t think we need to shut it all out just choose carefully 😉
Thanks for the comment
love love love
terri
Great message! I think people could take this on a personal level too. People are facing health issues, finacial issues , relationship issues etc . Somedays it’s hard not to drink the armageddon koolaid in our own lives let alone worry about what is happening in the world around us !
Mary-
I totally agree with trying not to focus on negative situations in our personal lives as well as the larger world. As a therapist I know it is necessary to process difficult situations in our lives but we can CHOOSE not to linger on what is wrong and find gratitude for what is right, right now <3
love love love
terri
My Mantra shifts me each time i get in this zone: ” I am a women of God, I have learned not to scarify my own happiness anymore. My hearts shines where there is darkness, mine or others. I serve most by disempower all illusionating thoughts about world separated from GOD( loving us endless).
Durga-
Thank you for that beautiful visual! So glad you are spreading your light <3
love love love
terri
Dear Terri,
You are incredible. I so needed to read & listen to you blog post. You have a great way of explaining things. Love your tip of the week. I feel I just received a great dose of ‘Sunlight’ in my heart. Definitely needed clarity & it came.
Thanks again
Miriam
Miriam-
It warms my heart to know we are on the same page and so grateful that this tip came at the right and perfect time for you! So grateful you are here!
love love love
terri
nice video terri….
Thanks for sayin’ so dror!
love love love
terri
Terri, awesome blog post! I’ve been so much happier since I turned off the news. I didn’t know about Odewire and Happy News – wow! They are fantastic – thanks for passing those on. Best of all – “pay it forward”.
Dear Bryan-
So glad you liked the post. Paying it forward is the BEST! So glad you are here!
love love love
terri
This makes me think of a friend that lives on the news of the day and makes it her mission to comment to her circle of followers and friends all that she has gleaned onto her Facebook posts. I have actually started to filter her posts and comment only when I can make a positive or fun retort. You are what you eat and the same for your mind. It isn’t necessarily intellectual and maybe a bit snobish.
I enjoy your Tweets and your outlooks. Very professional, yet personal and always encouraging. Not to mention we share the same name 😉
Terry S
@kayakfishingfvr
Terry-
Thank you for your comment. It is amazing how much damage tons of negative thoughts and feelings create from too much BAD NEWS! Glad you are on the side of the light too 😉
love love love
terri