It was over a decade ago that I, advised by my homeopathic doctor, removed from my daily life the routine of watching the daily news. Though I was reluctant at first, it didn't take long to realize how much happier I was with daily life when the "news" were no longer part of it.
So you may ask, if I don't watch the news, how do I stay infomed about current events? I watch or listen to news snipets when I watch other TV programs or when I am listening to the radio. This is enough for information, I don't need to wallow in the gory details of every incident. (Sometimes, I also watch the news parody shows at Comedy Central.)
The daily news are a collection of all the worst that has happened in the world ("if it bleeds, it leads") not only in that day, but in the previous weeks. News are re-hashed over and over, adding small details about previous stories. When we watch the news it would seem as if most of what happens in the world is bad and as if all people are intrinsically bad- we tend to believe that our world is more like what we see on TV than what we actually experience through our daily life. The media outlets that are devoted to creating a climate of terror in our lives are what I call "the Merchants of Fear."
Lately, their market of fear has focused on three main topics: the flu, the economic recession and a possible war with Iran.
The Flu -- have you noticed how after every scary news about someone dying with the flu there is a message pushing for the flu shot? Does this not make you curious as to who funds the news? Did you know the flu shot has more mercury than is considered safe for a person that weighs less than 500 pounds? For more info on what's in a flu shot check out this hilarious video. The way I see it, boosting your immune system so you become more resistant to all illnesses, is a much better choice than injecting toxic chemicals in your body that would only protect you against a couple of strains of a particular disease for which there are thousands of subtypes around the world. Illnesses are scary, there is no doubt about it, and it is your responsibility to take good care of the health of your body, mind and emotions.
The Economic Recession -- did you know that in the early 70's the stock market came down within one point of what it did when the Great Depression started? Why didn't we have another big depression? Because by then better economic systems were in place. It is absurd to expect a stock market without fluctuations, it would be contrary to the law of Yin and Yang. We cannot expect eternal expansion, expansion is followed by contraction, and eventually contraction will be followed by expansion. This is not to take away from the fact that people are losing their homes, facing unemployment, etc., but it is a call of attention to the fact that whether you are employed or or whether or not you are at risk of losing your house, letting yourself be swayed by these currents of fear will not increase your financial security, on the contrary, when we feel fear we are less capable of rational thinking, and are less able to make sound financial decisions.
The War -- There is probably little you can do to influence the decisions the leaders of this country will make regarding the war with Iraq or Iran. Sure you can vote, you can call your representatives, you can get involved in political campaigns... but the truth is that ultimately you cannot single-handedly control what is going to happen at the level of global politics. If you devote too much energy to think about or trying to solve in your mind that which you cannot control, you will be likely to neglect what it is your responsibility to take care of. If you are concerned about the environment, you cannot control global warming but you can certainly re-evaluate the use of energy in your own home, you can also show up at the river cleanup in your home town.
One of the things you can actually control is your home and the kind of feedback it gives you about your own life. Feng Shui is the Art of Space Arrangement that uses space as a tool to make changes in people's lives, so you can be more relaxed, get along with others better, and be more productive. We have a number of classes starting in March and April in Tennessee (check the side bars for more info) and in the Quad City Area (Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois)
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the antidote for fear is not courage, but responsibility -- think about that!
Love, Gratitude and Blessings,
Monica P. Castaneda
(865) 973-1475
monica@fengshuiforus.com
7786 Emory Chase Ln.
Knoxville, TN 37918