Toxic Media Diet

The media we consume every day – TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, even the Internet, BlackBerry and videogames – can be toxic and consume our precious time. And in today's environment, the media is giving us an extra dose of negativity. It seems like no matter where you turn, it's all negative. We have enough negativity in our lives right now without purposely adding it to our diet.

Consider the media you consume, because your mind becomes a reflection of the media itself. What we feed our minds affects us in so many ways. It influences what we say and how we project ourselves – externally and internally. We behave in alignment with what we see. The negative influences pervade our souls and our interactions with others.

Sadly, we’re ignorant to what we’ve done, unknowingly relented in the battle for our minds.

So is the media toxic to your spirit? Or is it a wellspring of knowledge and enlightenment?

Up for a challenge? Try this: Avoid TV for 10 days. Give it a try and see how you feel. And be deliberate about the other media you consume. Choose content that feeds your mind in a healthy way and gives you the energy you need to support yourself in this chaotic environment.

Today’s the day to turn off toxic media and stay mentally healthy!

Until next time. Passion Rules!

John

Ask for What You Want

Do you ask for what you want? Kids do it well. By the time we’re adults, we learned to hold back on asking for what we really want. We’re taught that it’s ‘against the rules’ or rude to confront authority; we learn to fear that we won’t get what we want even if we ask. After a while of sitting back, we forget to ask ourselves about what we want – until the part of us that knows … goes numb.

Kids have an innocent sense of entitlement and can freely access what they want in the moment. Unbridled by fear of rejection or sense of boundaries, kids check-in with their wants in real-time, so much so that they often can’t sit still.

It took me a while to figure out what I wanted in the big picture of life. It started with admitting that I wanted to know. I realized that if I knew, I might actually have to do something about it – and that was scary. Once I overcame the fear, I observed from my daughter that kids just know and ask for or do what they want. So, before tackling the big project of life purpose, I started small by asking for what I wanted here and now. By practicing to attune with what I wanted in the present - like exercise of underused muscles - I am able to access, formulate and ask for what I want … from life.

Ask for what you want and you just might get it.

Passion rules!

Barry Kaplan

Perspective

One of my hobbies is photography. Last week I was watching a documentary on James Nachtwey, one of the most renowned 'war photographers' in the world.

His work is hard to look at and yet it's captivating. I think it's important to look at it. It's important to see what we do to each other when we are scared, angry, greedy and desperate.

www.jamesnachtwey.com

His work helps me 'reframe' my world because I clearly take what I have for granted. Lately I've been obsessing over what we've lost and with the uncertainty of what else is going to happen. In addition, I worry about what I don't have - "I don't have enough (fill in the blank) and I need more (fill in the blank).

When I shift my perspective and look at everything we have, then I shift from a state of fear and scarcity to gratitude and abundance.

It's a new perspective for me - and it feels great.

In today's economic environment it's easy for me to get caught up in what we've lost and the fear of what's going to happen to us, our money and our stuff....when in reality - it is what it is. We'll be fine (You'll be fine too). Sure it's hard. It's a pain in the ass and I don't like it, but it's not life threatening. And we have everything we need to get through it. And we will get through it (You will too). And besides, it's nothing compared to what he (boy in the photo) went through.

Shift your perspective....it will change your life.

Until next time....Passion Rules!

John