If you want to make yourself feel really bad, then just do this :
Read, watch or listen to the news. It’s all bad.
It’s not just today’s news I’m talking about – it’s every day’s news.
Each story you digest will leave you feeling worried, scared, angry or useless – and that in turn will change your mood and ultimately your behaviour. So it’s probably gonna be bad – for you and those who have to live/work with you. Yeah really.
And if it’s not the news that captures our attention , it’s celebrities lives that the millions of us read about, wishing we had what the celebrities (appear to) have – you know ,the trappings of fame and that wonderful life in the spotlight!
(Except it’s not quite like that ! Having coached plenty of people in the spotlight, I can tell you that they all have the same problems in life that we have – and money is often a root cause, as is a huge sense of insecurity).
Finally – if that’s not bad enough, we decide (because of what we see/read) that we aren’t thin,fit ,gorgeous ,rich, successful or popular enough.
Wow. All of that adds up to a helluva lot of misery…IF you take it seriously that is.
Of course it’s all perception – because real life is never what you see through a TV/camera lens. So don’t be fooled.
It happens all too easily though. You might listen to the radio on your journey home from work, or you pick up a newspaper, read a mag and then you watch your TV and /or go online. Every day.
Over time that’s gonna cause you some serious damage!
So whats the alternative? Here’s 3 easy options:
1. Look for something to make you SMILE (OK it’s cheesy but it works) – there’s plenty of good news out there if you want to find out about it.
2. Watch some comedy if you want to watch your TV. And laugh your socks off. Better still – switch it your TV off (ouch!).
3. Focus on the good things in your life (and be grateful) . You’ll have plenty, so don’t even get me started on that one. Your life isn’t all that bad.
4. Listen to music that makes you feel good…(like -Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ or whatever floats your boat).
Look my POINT folks, is this: Just be careful what stuff you ‘expose’ yourself to – you DO have a choice.
Choose to make yourself someone who is good to be around – by feeding your mind with a bit of happiness. There’s plenty of it in the world, you just have to see it.
If I sound like a ‘tree hugging, happy clapping hippie’ (which I’m not), I don’t apologise.
But someone has to give you a ‘kick up the ar*e’ wake up call, before its too flippin’ late….and you become a full time doom – monger.
I’m not saying ignore what’s happening in the world – because you may want to help in some situations. Just pay attention to how much – and how often – you digest negativity.
You are what you read. Read something good. And become ‘good news’ for those who are around you.
Right, that’s my ‘good news’ story for the day done!
Amana,
Straight talking coach