Newsflash: Stop following the news!

Newsflash: Stop following the news!

Think about this…

Are you following the news, or is the news following you?

Newspapers, TV, radio, email, social media—everywhere we go, the ‘news’ follows.

It’s always the same.

Death.

Disaster.

Scandal.

Like most, I felt it was my responsibility to follow the news.

I’m a father and business leader.

I need to know what’s happening.

But after the news, I typically felt anxious, sad, and/or outraged.

I’d be left with a sense that we’re going in the wrong direction.

But is this true?

Several years ago, I was involved in a news story.

Every media outlet got it wrong.

It made me skeptical.

If they got things wrong about me, what else are they getting wrong?

I started questioning.

Why is so much of the news negative?

Where are the stories of all of the good happening?

Poverty is declining.

We live longer lives.

Humanity has greater access to food and education.

Fewer wars occur.

The male-female income gap is closing.

Rates of child labor are falling.

But the news shares little about these stories.

Why?

Because negative news sells.

Our brains pay more attention to negative information.

The media isn’t out to inform—they’re out to sell ads.

After this awakening, I cut ties with the news.

No morning newspaper.

No 10 o’clock news.

No Facebook.

Guess what?

Most people never knew.

I haven’t missed any important events.

It hasn’t held me back.

Better yet, it’s propelled me positively forward.

I’m happier.

I sleep better.

Have more time.

There’s one negative news story the media has gotten right.

Mental health is declining.

While there are many reasons, one is the negative news.

Are you ever feeling down, angry, or experiencing anxiety?

I invite you to experiment.

Stop following the news for 30 days and assess how you feel after.

When you cut the weeds, you can plant flowers.