Does television influence our happiness? Does the negative media influence our self image or our ability to be positive and happy in this world that seems so crazy?
Yes and Yes. If you want to be happy, here's a very simple
2-step process:
1. Get off the couch
2. Turn off the TV
Television Influence:
Makes you aware of the media's obsession with youth, fame and beauty
Causes stress and anxiety with the constant 24/7 focus on everything that's negative
Sucks time away from actually living life
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to see that the media is in love with youth and beauty. Now, there's nothing wrong with youth and beauty, it's just that the media often fixates on the less than appealing aspects of getting older. For women who often have body issues to begin with, this can be very damaging.
If you believe the media, anyone over 40 is dried up and insignificant. But once again, the media has it all wrong.
There are millions of baby boomer women who are successful and fabulous and living amazing lives. The problem with the TV influence is that if we see something enough we start to believe it. DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND HERE IN THE MEDIA.
The prevalence of negativity surrounding us today in the media is a self-fulfilling prophecy. It's not possible to listen to grim news every day and not be effected by it.
Do you really need to know the details of just how bad the economy is all day long on every channel? Do you need to know over and over how many car accidents, murders, or crimes are going on in your local community?
I first realized the power of television influence during the Columbine tragedy. Then of course there was the Oklahoma bombing, 9/11, and Katrina.
Like everyone else, I was glued to the TV all night long crying over the senseless tragedies. Every news program repeated the same information over and over and I would listen to it all. Then I would go about my day and wonder why I was so depressed.
I no longer watch the news. My friends and family will tell me if there is something I absolutely need to know. I don't miss it and I don't have that awful feeling of a 10 pound weight sitting on my chest any more.
Some people might argue that they have to watch the news because they have to be informed but if you have to choose between being informed and being happy, isn't that an easy decision?
Some people might argue that they watch the news because it's interesting. There are so many interesting things in the world that can inspire and uplift instead of cause anxiety, pessimism and fear.
If you absolutely must watch the news for an hour, make sure you balance it out with something positive and enriching. Also, make sure you never go to bed immediately after watching something disturbing on TV.
Do I watch TV? Um, well, okay I admit I still watch TV sometimes. I've got my guilty pleasures like American Idol and reruns of the Gilmore Girls.
But I've become very discriminating about what shows I watch now. I put feeling good ahead of entertainment and "vegging out". When feeling good became my highest priority, my taste in TV, movies, and books just naturally changed. The things I used to like no longer feel good in my happier state.
Unconscious TV Influence: TV Watching Can be Addictive
Do you sometimes use television like a drug? Do you sit in front of the TV night after night and just numb yourself from the stresses of your day? Do you watch other people live their lives on Reality TV instead of living yours?
I understand why everyone watches TV so much. You are bombarded all day long from your family, employer, neighbors, churches, schools, and kids. You watch TV to get into that mind numbing zone where you don't have to think about anything, make any decisions, or worry about the details of your life.
The thing is, you may be turning off the details of your life, but you're replacing it mostly with junk. You're replacing it with negativity. What if you replaced it with something that lifted you up instead?
Don't let negative television influence your happiness.
Think of all the things you could do if you weren't spending so much time watching TV (and I don't mean doing laundry, grocery shopping or paying bills).
What would you want to do if you had more free time?
If You Want to Be Happy, Turn Off the TV