Marisa’s Musings
With all the bad press out there bombarding us with news, images and videos about all the horrible things people are doing to one another around the world, let’s remember that there are people everywhere who, in the past and in the present, reach out to others in need and spread love, not hate or fear.
The problem is, we don’t often hear about the good news, only the bad. When we get caught up in the negative stories shared through multi-media channels, it often has a negative effect on us. We might find ourselves judging others who are being portrayed as the protagonists or we might feel depressed or fearful about how the events in the world might cause us, or those we love, to suffer in some way.
You’ve probably heard the expression, “What You Focus On Expands.” If you believe this to be true, I invite you to be mindful of how you feel when you watch or read the news. If you notice yourself feeling anxious, angry or judgmental towards others, remind yourself that if you choose to focus on these negative thoughts and feelings, you’ll attract more negativity into your life and your relationships.
Fortunately, we get to choose what to focus on. This doesn’t mean we’ll never feel any negative emotions or have negative thoughts. Nor does it mean we should suppress these thoughts or feelings. What it means is that as soon as we become aware of what we’re focusing on, we can make a conscious choice to simply observe our thoughts and feelings rather than grabbing a hold of them and spiraling downwards. We can also choose to turn our attention to something more positive and uplifting.
If you think there’s nothing positive going on around you, think of a few things you are truly grateful for. Gratitude has a way of lifting our Spirits and making us feel better.
