We can't control what's going on, but we can control what we consume

Replace the news with knowledge ...

NO MORE NEWS

As a citizen of the world, I feel we are compelled to tune in and hear about what horrors are going on around us.

Last year we really maxed out on "breaking news headlines" around the world. Each country took its turn to report its catastrophic life changing happenings. From Australias bushfires to the political war in America and finally, a unifying deadly virus for all.

Naturally, I felt it was my duty as a human to keep up to date.

I suppose, I thought that if I watched it I would feel more in control- if I knew what was going on with the nation – I may be less upset or scared or shocked and even more prepared for life and the future. Except, that good, secure feeling from watching it never came. It's a rather helpless feeling actually; knowing there is really nothing we can do to be of significant influence. The reports on job loss, covid spreading, scandals, crime,

.....deaths....

.....deaths...

....deaths.....

gradually started to infect all of the other, nicer thoughts, swirling around in my head. My thoughts became predominately pessimistic and covid related. By the end of 2020 I was left feeling the world is a brutal, heartless and terrifying place and a head cluttered with reasons why. Every day, seemingly worse.

But at least I wasn't alone in this. Because when you watch the news you become one of those people who talks about the news to other people who may tweet about the news and Instagram-story about the news and Facebook-status about the news and text about the news and just at night when you think you have escaped the news, you nip to take bin out and see a neighbour, who you haven't seen in a while- and they just happen to say, hey, have you seen the news?

Whilst journalling I reflected on how my anxieties were largely about the external things going on everywhere. I concluded that my feelings of watching it "to stay informed" were fuelled by insecurity rather than curiosity.

So I stopped. Starting a new year news-free. Since the end of December I didn't search anything, watch it on the tv or listen on the radio. And actually.... not a single thing changed. I didn't die or catch covid or lose my head.

I realised, how much time I spent worrying and thinking about things that weren't really necessary to think about. People may shriek "ITS A PANDEMIC" but whether I watch it or not, it's still a pandemic, I just feel a little better in the life I live.

If you are one of those people who know the daily death toll, maybe its time for a little break. I'm not saying to put a blindfold on when you pass a TV - but perhaps use the time for something better-feeling.

Contray to what people say and believe, I found it impossible to feel better after watching the news...

So what to do with all this free time now...

Okay... it wasn't exactly like it took tons of time up... I wasn't addicted a news channel addict or anything. But I made it more of duty to replace the time I had watching "the news" with knowledge and thus dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to reading. Actually, I love to read so this wasn't a new thing but I ensured a daily dose of this knowledge was just as important... in fact more important as it led to me feeling good...not worried.

The man who doesn’t read has as much value as the man who can’t read

I won't go into why books are so fantastic, beautiful and imperative....

As soon as you read a book with value – the more it will domino to read more... these books in some way are all connected...which started the domino effect for me...

The Code of the Extraordinary Mind: Vishen Lakhiani

The Power of Now: Eckhart Tolle

Becoming supernatural: Joe Dispenza

Outwitting the Devil : Napeleon Hill

The Untethered Soul: Michael Singer

The 5am club: Robin Sharma

Consume some...silent fresh air ... and a sniff of a flower

I love to walk. I love the me time, the fresh air and the exercise. Especially a long one in which I can listen to an exciting podcast about the right way to manifest abundance or use the law of attraction or find the love of your life. What better way to use time? Right?

I thought switching from music to podcasts was a great way to learn and listen to people – you know, on my wavelength. In fact, I sort of thought anybody blaring music in their ears when they could be educating themselves was missing a trick, like come on. Didn’t you know podcasts were the new Netflix?

It wasn’t until I was half-way on a marathon style walk when both my iphone and my airpods lost battery…. Alone…. With my thoughts! Arg! I wasn’t prepared for this...

Do I go back?

Am I wasting this time by not consuming something valuable at this very moment? ??

It was then I realised...when did I actually go on a walk where I actually saw things? It occurred to me, did I actually ever look up from the pavement when I was marching around with my airpods in?

The sound of the birds, the smiles on peoples faces (or the frowns) the colours and the array of clouds in the sky. I had walked this route so many times but hardly noticed it before.

In the Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma, there is page called "the heart of a rose"- which is a mindful practice by which a person is encouraged to observe a simple flower... "to stop and smell the roses" As I passed the flowers- I couldn't think of anything but... so I thought - well why not...

I didn't have a rose- as I couldn't bring myself to just pluck one out of someones garden. So the search began.

I went on my way, suddenly aware of how many colourful flowers there were on my path. I picked a pretty violet flower which I thought would do, held it up and took a great big whiff. (?)

Robin, I thought, I really can't smell anything.

So I brought it closer to me and inhaled again. This time locating a soft fragrence that was nestled between the yellow specks of pollen. I observed it -so tiny- and yet perfectly sufficient for the bellies of bees. The fragility and pure beauty of the violet petals in my heavy hands. I suddenly felt like a giant looking in on the little world of nature - it ignited a warm inner smile. I guess this is what Eckhart Tolle means when he talks about 'presence.'

It was fleeting, but beautiful.

For the rest of the walk I almost felt I was looking at the world from another angle – seeing everybody’s busy faces push past to get somewhere better than here and thinking about the flower... so much detail and how much more detail and beauty is within our daily lifes we just are too busy to notice.

Of course I didn’t eradicate podcasts, but I added some phoneless walks too.

I also decided I need a lot more music in my life in 2021. Audible and the podcasts are fantastic and also great to find like-minded talks about spirituality and abundance and manifestation etc etc etc. BUT I forgot the power of a simple song and how it can uplift or flip our vibration- that said I made a playlist exclusively for “happy songs 2021” ... that was strictly offlimits to the likes of Adele...

Quick fixes for feelin' good:

“Happy” Pharrel Williams

“You’ve got the love” (damn right I have) Florence and the Machine

“Hall of Fame” The Script

"Shake it off" Taylor Swift

“Savage” Beyonce

“On top of the world” Imagine Dragons

"Uptown Funk" Mark Ronson ft Bruno Mars

We will never be able to control what goes on the world around us but we can control what happens within us... starting by taking a little more care of what we consume.....

Thank you for reading,

Take care x