We've recently moved to one of the new Earth Nation headquarters, and as a result, I feel better than I ever have in my life. This location is a beautiful healing environment. Serenity is ever-present. Even when it rains, there is a calmness as the canopies protect us below from the turbulence falling from the skies.
But, what’s just become apparent to me was the contrast in what my attention was being filled with. Here, work fills a lot of my time, followed by the people, and the abundance of greenery stretching as far as the eye can see. Distractions are minimal, and yet, I just checked a news feed for the first time since I’ve arrived, and the entire first page was massively negative. Several stories about death and the terrors around the world.
Before coming here, this would be nothing: something that was common and expected. But, just a few weeks of being removed from it, I find myself more anxious. I don’t consciously feel threatened, but the ideas seeded by those narratives planted worry in my on a subconscious level.
I think it’s important to acknowledge that the news does not exist to inform us. That may have been why the industry was born, but it is clear and apparent that it now exists as a manipulating agent, keeping opinions aligning towards certain ideals. Social engineering is a real thing and has been utilized in various forms since the dawn of civilization. I can point to the Colosseum of the Roman Empire as a perfect example; give the people bread and circuses to appease them. The emperor’s game has just gotten more complicated over the generations. All the advances in human cognition and sociology have given those at the top of society more tools to work those they see as less than themselves.
We have to look at the effect information has on us. Anything I transmit to you will have an effect on your psyche. These words may not have a dramatic impact, but consider that every transmitter has an accumulative effect on you. How much of what’s on your mind is there because you want it to be there? Is your mind free, or controlled by unseen agents?
It is obvious that mainstream media wants to convey a sense of fear to people. There is a constant stream of everything bad under the sun getting pushed onto the masses. It has become impossible to live in a typical community without some feedback of this negative noise machine reaching you.
We have to think: what cumulative effect do fear and anxiety have on people? For one, it makes people less willing to take chances. When things are scary, it’s best to play those strategies you know will work. With a large number of people toeing the line to the status quo, the systems which are supported by the media industry continue to prosper.
It is clear your interests are not embraced by those who are choosing to transmit these emotion-swinging stories. The solution is to take a brave step off onto the unbeaten path and seek your own answers. When we consume news from global conglomerates, we are constructing a picture of a world that is not our own. Your immediate reality is far more relevant than anything a news anchor can provide you information on.
Give yourself your freedom back: step away from the headlines and reality TV masquerading as news and find your peace of mind.