One look at the headlines and you could easily think that the world’s in a terrible place; terrorists attacks happening everywhere it seems, wars in Syria and who knows where else.
Although what the media won’t tell you, is that statistically speaking, the world has never been safer; many of us are living longer and the amount of warfare and deaths by human hands are reducing globally.
Moreover, infectious diseases now kill fewer people than old age, famine kills fewer people than obesity, and violence kills fewer people than accidents.*
Thus, it isn’t hard to conclude that the media is more focused on capturing market share by creating fear and concern than it is on giving you the actual facts.
Wrote Anthony Moore,
“The majority of mainstream media is more focused on promoting their own biased agenda through fear and despair — not giving you the actual facts.”
Thus, in the wake of “fake news” and all this negative concern about the world, it’s more important than ever to have a strategy for staying sane and making your world a better place.
This article is about doing just that.
Here we go.
Don’t Get Overly Attached to a Single Opinion
“People rarely appreciate their ignorance, because they lock themselves inside an echo chamber of like-minded friends and self-confirming newsfeeds, where their beliefs are constantly reinforced and seldom challenged.” -Yuval Noah Harari
Most people’s misery stems from the people around them and the information they consume. If you keep hearing that Trump’s a bad person, the temperature’s rising and that the world is doomed, of course you’re going to be upset and worried.
To that, Darren Hardy hassaid,
“You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life.”
If you live inside of a negative echo chamber, you can’t expect to be very happy. You should be very careful about the friends you keep and the information you consume.
As a rule, I only consume information that inspires me. Although, if you are so inclined to be “informed,” I would recommend using AllSides.com.
Here you’ll be able to read all the latest news stories, although each headline will provide a link to three different sources: one from the political left, another from the right, and a further from the center.
Thus, you won’t be overly consumed by a single ideology and will be able to see the world neutrally. You won’t be getting other people’s political agenda shoved down your throat and will actually be able to breathe.
Focus on Yourself Before You Worry About the World
“Put yourself together, and your world falls into place.” -Gary Keller
Without skin in the game, it’s easy to point the finger at everything that’s wrong with the world; what the government isn’t doing or all the wars overseas.
But look in the mirror — you’ve probably got plenty of problems to deal with yourself. And in any case, at least they’re in your control.
Said Ryan Holiday,
“Waste no time judging and worrying about other people. You have plenty of problems to deal with in your own life. Chances are your own flaws are probably worse — and in any case, they are at least in your control.”
So, get busy looking within and fix your own world before trying to fix the entire world.
And paradoxically, when you put your world together, you’ll no longer worry about the greater world. You won’t even worry about the future, and nor will you worry about practically anything because you’ll be at peace.
You’ll be congruent and thus know everything will work out.
Each day your internal thoughts and dreams will more closely match your external reality.
In Conclusion
Your brain has evolved through thousands of years to scan out danger and keep you safe. Thus, it’s easy to get caught up in the fear and despair brought to you by the news.
Hence why Darren Hardy has said,
“Left to its own devices, your mind will traffic in the negative, worrisome, and fearful all day and night.”
Although, you need not worry about everything that’s happening in the world; you first need to put your world together and trust that everything will fall into place.
There are millions of people in the world with self-serving agendas, be careful not to get overly caught up in one. Your happiness and view upon the world depends on it.