For the past month and a half, I have been working on a corporate client site and I have to take the train to get there. 
I usually see a lot of people reading the daily metro and I remember this was me way back when I used to take the train to my job. Grabbing the metro on my way to work to read just like everyone else was the normal thing to do. But this time around I am wiser and intentional.
Have you ever noticed that most newspapers and the news usually carry bad news 80% of the time. It’s either a gory story of a mother killing her children then killing herself, or a case of armbed robbery or a murder or rape case. Bad news spread faster than good news they say.
I mean just recently George Clooney got married and some people were complaining that the newspapers kept repeating the story over and over again when so much else (bad) was going on in the world. And that made me wonder. George Clooney getting married is fantastic news (though a lot of single ladies out there might tend to disagree) but it appears people would rather read bad news then good news.
[Tweet “Have we as a society become desensitised to good news? “]
So why don’t I read the newspaper or watch the news?
Well because it is full of bad news and all bad news is instill FEAR.
Think about it, a lot of people in the world are very paranoid. You read about a child who was run over on her way to school and you start to fear for your children’s lives.
You read about a thief mugging a woman as she was about to get into her car. You start to fear for your life.
That is no way to live- in fear. Don’t you realise that subsconsiously the fear and paranoid you are experiencing stems from what you see, hear and read.
I live by faith and not by what I see, therefore I am making it a conscious effort to read, watch and listen to things that will inspire, stimulate, educate and empower me for good.
Instead of reading the newspaper, I listen to a podcast on my way into work or read a book. Instead of watching the news at home, I spend time with my children or take a nap.
You might say so Aloted, how do you keep up with current affairs?
How would you know what’s happening in the world?
Well if it really important or life changing like the Queen suddenly announced that the whole of England was packing up and moving to the States I am sure I will find out somehow. That’s where my husband, a good friend (don’t tell them I said so) or social media comes in. Lol.
But seriously, I really don’t need to know everything that is going on in the world especially if it is of no benefit to me.
Of course not everyone will be like me and not read the newspaper or watch the news (I could probably bet that a lesser percentage of the world are like me) but my challenge to you today is to be more conscious about what you read, watch or listen to on a constant basis as your life is shaped by these things.
As a super working mum you need to guard what goes into your heart for everything you do flows from it. Prov 4:23
SO tell me what do you like to read or listen to on your way to work whether you drive or take the train?
I usually listen to my good old tape(cassette…lol) with songs like Jabullani Africa and When the righteous prosper, city rejoices etc when I’m driving. I listen to interesting radio programs too. If I’m hitching a ride with any of my friends, I don’t have a choice but to chit chat to and fro work.
Nice one @disqus_WxqKGsArCb:disqus. Love this 🙂
Hi Aloted, i completely agree and I’m the same as you. My mother despairs. Lol. She’s all about watching the news. This is not a bad thing but whilst some ppl can hear/read all these things and it doesn’t affect them too much, I’ve learnt that I’m not wired that way and it is not to my benefit to follow everything in world media.
I’m a total bookworm so on my way to work my nose is usually buried in my kindle. Or I’m listening to gospel songs: )
I think our parents generation are used to listening to the news. My parents hardly miss the 9 o’clock NTA news. I must say your typical NTA news from back home may not be as bad as CNN, SKY, BBC.
What kind of books do you enjoy reading @wemimo:disqus
I’m not a news junkie like my hubby but somehow, some way I manage to keep abreast of what is going on in the world. If it is big enough the message gets out there one way or another.
You are totally right Kim. We will get to hear the important stuff so best to focus on the positivity. Thanks for stopping by
I’m with you Aloted! I can’t put that negative stuff into my mind all the time! I hear enough just in my day-to-day life. I like to listen to audiobooks, podcasts, or even Youtube videos discussing topics of interest to me. We can still be aware of the important things in life without being news junkies. We just need to ask ourselves in all we do, does what I am doing benefiting myself and others? I doubt too many lives are improved through paying attention to every detail in the news.
There is just too much negativity around and I agree we don’t have to be news junkies to know whats going on. Kristen thanks for your comment.
Not to sound like a theory conspiracist but I think the media is a tool that demobilizes us to create and the only way it can do that is feed us with bad news and fear. Who would think of coming outside their comfort zone, making a difference (like Super Working Mum) if you knew it was all doom and gloom, anyway? Thank you Aloted for a reminder piece! x
Haha! I totally agree Ekwy. You are so right…didn’t even click. Thanks for breaking it down that way.