How to Maintain Your Mental Strength Despite the Current State of the News
Maybe you’re like me and you like being abreast of global events. Staying informed on current events is something I take pleasure in doing. I also like how easy it is to have access to any and every information in the globe. It’s a great perk of living in the modern day.
But there’s always a flip side, and that includes the news and data we have at our fingertips. Anxiety has crept into all of our thoughts and souls, and it’s consuming us. There are some who can see it immediately, while for others it may be more difficult. People now are more anxious, hostile, and pessimistic than they have ever been before as a society. We’re having a hard time, feeling miserable, and wanting to get away from it all.
The constant stream of disturbing information, outrageous happenings, and terrible news might be too much for many individuals to bear. But what if I told you that, with some basic boundaries in place, you may finally get the resilience you’ve always craved? You know, what if I told you that you could be “up to speed” on everything without feeling like your soul was being destroyed in the process?
Let’s take a little trip, and look at ways to set up such barriers.
Jesus calls his followers to a life that is upward, inside, and outward focused.
Everything that occurs in the world is something that occurs beyond you. You are not the direct target. At the same time, your outlook on the world and the news you consume changes depending on the circumstances. So, the events of the day take place on the outside yet have an effect on the inside. Feelings, attitudes, and ideas may all be affected by what you read in the news. After all that, you attempt to put a spiritual spin on it, assuming there’s any time left.
Jesus, however, conducts things differently. Jesus teaches that we should prioritize our relationship with God and his kingdom above all else, rather than letting our external pursuits shape our inner selves. Put God’s love first in your life, before the news, social media, or any other distractions. After spending time with God and letting him align your ideas with his, you will be prepared to take on the world. The greatest commandment that Jesus gave may be found in Matthew 22:36-40 and entails an upward, inside, and outward way of living.
Isn’t it obvious that we often get the sequence backward? Jesus encourages us to focus our lives inside, then outwardly. But when we’re given free rein, we tend to focus our lives outward, then inside, then upward. One must constantly remember to switch the order first thing in the morning.
We must bear in mind that a story does not represent the standard.
Our natural inclination is to sum up the news we receive. It’s a way that we try to keep ourselves secure in a world that can be so confused and scary. When we hear a tale, we tend to generalize its applicability to everyone in the same group. When we read about an individual or a small group of individuals, our minds go to generalizing about all members of that category. As a matter of fact, this is both foolish and impractical. You can’t generalize from one person’s experience to everyone who reads a devastating news report. There is only ever just one circumstance in mind. A disturbing event in a neighboring area is not always relevant to our own. Therefore, let’s take care that not every narrative becomes the accepted standard. As a result, we develop resentment against our environment. All too often, we search for and accept the worst in others and in situations. Furthermore, this makes the environment we live in a lot less pleasant.
Even more so, we have a habit of not treating “feel good” tales as the norm. Only the worse ones are included. Research shows that humans are more likely to recall unpleasant experiences than pleasant ones. It’s pleasant when we learn that someone has done something lovely or kind. We don’t generalize that attitude, however. But when we hear a sad narrative, we tend to project that misery onto additional individuals and internalize some of that negativity. Perspective is key, as is keeping in mind that good things are occurring all the time. I believe Jesus’ overarching goal is to transform the world into his likeness, and our job is to find ways to join him in this exciting endeavor.
Keep in mind that Jesus uses the chaos.
In my roles as pastor and writer, I often meet with individuals who are experiencing difficulties in many areas of life. When life is good, so are its inhabitants. Exuberance and happiness flood them. And as believers, we see God’s hand at work in all that has happened to us. It might be challenging to recognize God at work in the midst of seeming chaos, complexity, or brokenness.
Nonetheless, I am here to assure you that Jesus is at work in the midst of your difficulties. Jesus is already familiar with life’s difficulties, therefore we shouldn’t try to separate him from them. Jesus took on himself the penalty for all sins when he died on the cross. This means that Jesus is aware of the root of our chaos. Inviting Jesus into the midst of our traumas allows him to do the most miraculous work of transformation.
Get Jesus involved, my buddy. Take note of how his presence releases your inner strength and the strength of your life. You will travel through life hearing and experiencing the hard things and hearing God whisper comfort to deep areas of your soul, as you hope in the magnificent future that he has waiting for you, the more you feel his loyal care and remember who he is, what he has done, and what he is doing.
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