7 ways to avoid being emotionally manipulated by bad news reports
Article By Jennifer Wilkins // Empower Her // EEW Magazine Online
There is no way to avoid bad news these days. The headlines we read are about the pandemic, economic crisis, political unrest, violence, division, gloom and doom. Where is the hope?
If you put your trust in media reports and allow your emotions to be overtaken by gloomy, pessimistic predictions, you will be an internal train wreck! So how can you avoid doing this?
EEW Magazine Online is offering 7 ways to avoid being emotionally manipulated by bad news reports so you can keep the embers of hope burning in your heart.
#1 Maintain balance. While it’s not healthy to bury your head in the sand and be totally out of the loop, it’s also not healthy to immerse yourself in the news and overwhelm your brain. It’s important to maintain balance by not spending all your time scouring news websites and social media. Give your brain a break. Go do something else.
#2 Be a positive influence. Sometimes, when you look around at most reports, it looks like the whole world is wicked, people are the worst, and humanity is past the point of saving. Instead of adopting that perspective, become the change you want to see. Be a positive influence, and others will follow your lead. Sow seeds of love and light.
#3 Stop following bearers of bad news. Some people thrive off of drama and negativity. If there’s good news, they’ll skip over everything right and point out what’s wrong. If you surround yourself with people like that and follow them on social media, more often than not, you’ll be in a bad mood and feel fed up with the world.
#4 Search for the good. You will find what you’re looking for, so seek after good things and not bad ones. Choose information sources that highlight positivity and offer an uplifting viewpoint. This will keep you from peering at life through a lens of fear, anger, bitterness, and hurt. You’ll be more joyful and hopeful. Isn’t that what we all want?
#5 Believe God’s report. If news reports had the final say about what would happen in our lives, we would all be in trouble! Again, it’s good to be aware of what’s happening around you. At the same time, you must always remember and acknowledge that God’s word and His promises, not current events and breaking news, determine outcomes. Simply put, despite the chaos and confusion, God is in control.
#6 Look at motives. In spite of claims of being objective, all media is biased, and there is a motive behind the reporting. Generally speaking, there’s a well-known saying in news media: “If it bleeds, it leads.” In other words, fear-based reporting that increases anxiety, anger and tension tends to get a better response from the public. Messy, violent, divisive stories often receive more prominence in media reporting. It pays to scare you and keep you emotionally on a string, so disengage and take your power back.
#7 Share good news. You don’t have to be a journalist or big-time social media influencer to counterbalance all the negativity we read and hear about. Use whatever outlet you have to share joyful, uplifting, good news. You have the power to put a smile on someone’s face, and let them know that things aren’t always as bad as they seem. Even if that someone is you.
There is a reason Scripture tells us in Philippians 4:8 to think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Doing this helps us enjoy the peace of God and avoid being negative balls of emotion.
