By Remez Sasson
- How many times a day, do you watch the news on TV?
- How many times a day, do you listen to the news on the radio?
- How much time do you spend reading the newspapers everyday?
- Are you a news addict?
- Do you really need to stuff your mind with so many details every day?
- Do you need all the strain, stress and fears caused by watching the news?
- Will you be able to change events and the world by listening to the news?
There are many people who feel the need to watch, listen, read and discuss the news, important matters and also trivial matters. This habit makes it difficult to control the mind and weakens the ability to concentrate. This habit also prevents you from experiencing inner peace, since your mind constantly buzzes with details of the news, and because the news makes you stressed strained, anxious and often unhappy.
I am not suggesting that you stop being interested in what is going in the world. I am not suggesting that you close your eyes and your mind. Living in the world, you need to know what is going on in the world, but you can limit the time you spend watching, listening or reading the news, by exercising a “news diet”.
Someone, who wants to lose weight and is on a diet, abstains from certain foods, eats less food, and tries to exercise control concerning the quantity of food, frequency of eating, and the kind of food to eat. You can do the same with the news.
How can you implement the news diet?
- Limit the time you watch the news on TV.
- Reduce the time you listen to the news on the radio. Once or twice a day are quite enough.
- Start by limiting the time you spend on reading the newspapers, even if they are so interesting to read. Next, decide on days that you read the newspapers and days that you don’t.
- Refrain from discussing the news with other people, but if you do participate in discussions, and wish to say what you think, make it short, and be careful not to get into heated discussions.
- Try to be a little detached when watching, listening, reading or discussing the news.
A news diet will teach you to be mentally free and able to shape your own opinions. A news diet will prevent too much unimportant details and opinions from filling your mind, enabling to feel happier and more at peace. A news diet can be your first step toward freedom from mental programming.
You may even go one step further, and have a “news fast”, just a some people fast and don’t eat, you may have “a news fast” – not watching, listening or reading the news every once and then for a day or several days.
Willpower and self discipline will strengthen your ability to change your habits, control your mind and practice a “news diet”.
Remez Sasson is an author and blogger. He is the founder of SuccessConsciousness.com, a website and blog about self improvement and spiritual growth.
Remez Sasson is the author of several life transforming books, containing a wealth of information, advice and guidance.
Great article! thank you Remez for the time and effort you put into this blog, always can’t wait until I read something you wrote. Inspiring, fresh and reminding.
Thank you
Michal
Fabulous Remez…..I have not watched the news or read the paper for over 6 years. It is really interesting to observe people’s reactions to this….they all wonder how we will know what is going on in the world, if you don’t rely on the media to tell you. Most of the information is useless and depressing. It does not serve us to immerse ourselves in the negativity, and I have found that whenever there is something I really need to know, the information always comes to me, despite the fact that I have a permanent news fast in my life.
It is really interesting to observe the effects that the media has on individuals. I know someone that reads the paper immediately upon awakening, and watches the news every night before going to bed….this individual has trouble sleeping, is stressed and anxious, goes to the Dr. and is searching for the solution to be able to sleep peacefully.
Another individual I know purchased an in home sauna for health and relaxation. They put in a lovely Hawaiian CD of music to set the atmosphere, and then turns on the news to watch while supposedly relaxing in the sauna! This person is also anxious and has high blood pressure, and goes to the Dr. regularly for medication.
If you are not being brainwashed by the media, you have an opportunity to do exactly what you have described Remez….to become mentally free and shape your own opinions, and, your own reality. Most of the news is focused on negativity, and fear. Very rarely does the media report anything positive. It’s time people wake up, take control of their thoughts, their dreams, their goals and their futures, and realize that we do not need to rely on the media (whose mandate is to report negativity) to create our own reality. We are surrounded by abundance, beauty, and opportunity….it is so much easier to recognize it for yourself, when you are free from the fears and conditioned beliefs reported by the media.
Thank you for bringing an awareness to this Remez and for taking a stand for something that is truly life altering in such a positive direction.
Good article. A lot of the news is programmed to influence us to do something we ordinarily would not want to do or believe.
After reading this I stopped all news inputs – newspaper and TV reports since a week. Believe me – it works wonders. I am feeling more relaxed and happy. Thanks for the tip.
In fact i always read great articles from Mr Remez…. Thx to him i have successfully resolved many enigmas in my life…Still u may not think how these news affect us all. i totally agree that this is more hurting us than anything else. Thanks again Sir…