How can we pinpoint and root out negative influences from our lives? First of all, I feel it's necessary to define the term 'negative influence'. Initially it occurred to me to describe it as anything outside of you that takes away your peace. That's still a decent definition, but it doesn't apply universally; for example, sometimes we need to hear the truth for the sake of our personal growth or to shatter our illusions and shake us out of our comfortability, even if that truth temporarily takes away our peace or makes us uneasy. The ego might shy away from the truth but our souls should not.
But of course, if you perceive that something or someone is repeatedly having a negative effect on you, draining your energy, sapping your enthusiasm, or perhaps hampering your spiritual growth, it's perfectly reasonable to acknowledge this and politely boot said negative influence out of your life. You are probably familiar with the term "energy vampire" by now. Well, I had one of these in my life until recently, when I finally realised the effect this person's unrelenting negativity was having on me and began to distance myself from them. They are the kind of person that you try to help, counsel and support, and just when you think you've made a breakthrough and they've left behind their old ways of thinking and come to a new understanding, they go and say/do something that proves they really haven't changed a bit. And their constant soul-sucking, draining negative talk wears you out and induces doubt and fear in such a subtle way that it is almost imperceptible unless you're very self-aware (which I am trying to be better at!), but the effects are cumulative over time. So thank goodness I finally recognised it and am feeling more like myself again without constantly having my energy sapped by negative talk.
Besides negative people, I can think of another very detrimental influence that usually goes unrecognised: the media. Particularly television for its mind-numbing effects, but not only that.... also daily newspapers selling you a hefty dose of lies and stories of war, murder, doom and gloom... 'fashion' magazines telling women they won't be attractive unless they can fit into size 0 jeans... the radio pumping out generic songs day after day, of which many lyrics promote subtly destructive messages. Most of these influences, if not overtly negative by most people's definition, at least serve to uphold the status quo.
At the end of the day, no one can pinpoint negative influences for you. You have to practise self-awareness in an almost meditative way; carefully observe every thought, feeling and reaction as you go about your day. Are there certain people, activities, places, habits that repeatedly induce negative or non-constructive thought patterns? Does someone in your life sap your energy by continually criticising and complaining? Do you feel unduly fatigued/depressed after eating certain foods? Keep observing & questioning in this way, and you will start making connections between your external life (other people, events etc) and your inner life (your moods, thoughts and feelings).
But of course, if you perceive that something or someone is repeatedly having a negative effect on you, draining your energy, sapping your enthusiasm, or perhaps hampering your spiritual growth, it's perfectly reasonable to acknowledge this and politely boot said negative influence out of your life. You are probably familiar with the term "energy vampire" by now. Well, I had one of these in my life until recently, when I finally realised the effect this person's unrelenting negativity was having on me and began to distance myself from them. They are the kind of person that you try to help, counsel and support, and just when you think you've made a breakthrough and they've left behind their old ways of thinking and come to a new understanding, they go and say/do something that proves they really haven't changed a bit. And their constant soul-sucking, draining negative talk wears you out and induces doubt and fear in such a subtle way that it is almost imperceptible unless you're very self-aware (which I am trying to be better at!), but the effects are cumulative over time. So thank goodness I finally recognised it and am feeling more like myself again without constantly having my energy sapped by negative talk.
Besides negative people, I can think of another very detrimental influence that usually goes unrecognised: the media. Particularly television for its mind-numbing effects, but not only that.... also daily newspapers selling you a hefty dose of lies and stories of war, murder, doom and gloom... 'fashion' magazines telling women they won't be attractive unless they can fit into size 0 jeans... the radio pumping out generic songs day after day, of which many lyrics promote subtly destructive messages. Most of these influences, if not overtly negative by most people's definition, at least serve to uphold the status quo.
At the end of the day, no one can pinpoint negative influences for you. You have to practise self-awareness in an almost meditative way; carefully observe every thought, feeling and reaction as you go about your day. Are there certain people, activities, places, habits that repeatedly induce negative or non-constructive thought patterns? Does someone in your life sap your energy by continually criticising and complaining? Do you feel unduly fatigued/depressed after eating certain foods? Keep observing & questioning in this way, and you will start making connections between your external life (other people, events etc) and your inner life (your moods, thoughts and feelings).
0 comments:
Post a Comment