Have you ever noticed that if you watch something particularly unnerving on TV that you will often become unnerved? Or how about when you have an argument with someone? Doesn't it affect you the rest of the day? Chances are, you'll think about it, talk about it, even obsess about it. You may even let it spoil your thinking and mood in the days to come. You may be the type of person who shrugs stuff off really easily; however, most of us are emotionally affected by what we watch and with whom we interact.
So I ask a simple question. How do you want to feel today? Don't answer too quickly. The knee-jerk reaction would probably be to say "happy - of course". But I want you to really think about this. Do you want to feel inspired, calm, excited, peaceful?
What we take in with our senses affects most of us - no doubt about it. When there is a major disaster, people tend to sit in front of the TV and ingest every detail, every angle of the story, and every emotion. The 24 hour news channels have become really good at feeding us far too information. Much of it isn't constructive information, but rather the type of programming that they hope will pull in ratings. How do we feel after watching all of that emotional, disastrous television? Terrible, most likely. Believe me, I'm not suggesting we ignore the news. Certainly, we need to be informed of what's going on in the world around us. But, do you offer yourself a steady diet of violent movies, bad news, or judgmental talk shows? I'm asking you to think about how all of this affects you. Is it possible that these things make you anxious, irritated, and judgmental yourself?
The point of all of this: start with the original question - "how do I want to feel today". If you want to feel inspired, read inspirational books and articles, watch inspiring television and movies, interact with positive, inspirational people that you admire. If you're looking for peace in your life, start with seeking activities and experiences that are peaceful. Be selective; be your own gatekeeper; be proactive and match your entertainment with who you want to be. It's kind of like that old saying "you're only as good as the company you keep". Ingest the positive and become a positive light in the world.