13th September 2021
North East West South, in other words news! In my short life so far I have watched the news become more and more attention grabbing. Almost made like a stream of advertisements. Similar to the ideas of previous blogs we live in an economy that competes for our attention and so it is no surprise that TV and indeed news has evolved this way. The lower viewer count shows eventually discontinue, but the formula for the highest views and therefore most attention capturing survives.
News is a channel to covey information to the masses. However mainstream news is structured in a way that is, as the Greeks say is in “Philia nikia” (love of victory) rather than an open debate to discuss the real truth of “Philia sophia” (love of wisdom). Which is perhaps why long and deep non-biased youtube debates have gained in popularity. People seek an authentic personal discussion admitting ignorance and searching for a real truth that is greater than the two people involved in the discussion. This can be a slightly abstract concept to grasp but essentially means participants are not trying to defend their opinion and win a discussion, but rather express an opinion without identifying with it and listen with the intent to learn more than they came in with.
The basic downsides of the news on wellbeing is well documented. It can be thought of as a super refined and processed view filtering all the world’s negativity (which most likely wont affect the individual) opening a convent portal straight into your peaceful living room after work and in to your brain. Since our organic jelly like structure in our cranium (the brain of course!) has a high degree of plasticity and is moldable, then what we choose to consume will directly shape how we view reality. Our mood, our wellbeing the way we approach life depends on what we choose to consume. Choosing what we eat directly affects our body structure and function, what we mentally consume directly affects the brain structure and function.
Of course we need to understand some news and the on goings of the world, have awareness and not live in so called happy and blissful ignorance. This can be done mindfully, where the networks and channels do not choose what you consume. Rather it can be done rationally: reading the news in text format without an emotional message being conveyed, seeking out this news in ones own time and limiting consumption.
Now I have talked about news, the same to a greater or lesser degree applies to all media in general. Just like compound investing, spending our time compounds. Hour by hour, day by day, week by week and eventually decade by decade the result of your repetitive actions, your habits, show. This can be hard as mentioned previously in Dr Gabor Mate’s research, when the consumption of the media is used as a numbing agent/mild addiction to the pain/uncomfortableness caused through daily stresses.
When you feel your brain is being pulled North East West South, the best place to center yourself is of course…the center, you! If you can be aware of feeling uncomfortable when away from distractions when trying to settle the mind, then is a great step to being comfortable with being uncomfortable.
-Jhoty
Jhoty 