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 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 beneficial to immerse yourself in the news and overwhelm your brain. It’s important to maintain balance by not spending all your time scouring websites and social media for negativity and drama. Give your brain a break. Go do something else.

#2 Be a positive influence. When you look around at the majority of reports that gain the most traction, 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. Focus on the good.

#3 Stop following bearers of bad news. Some people thrive off of poison, pettiness, and panic. If there’s good news, they’ll skip over it 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. Check your associations and connections. It may be helpful to do some house cleaning.

#4 Intentionally search for the good. You will find what you’re looking for, so intentionally 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. Is there really any objective news source these days? Uh, no. Despite claims of being unbiased, 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 bigger response from the public. Messy, violent, divisive stories often receive more prominence in media reporting, because it pays to scare you and keep you emotionally on a string. Refuse to be manipulated for media’s gain.

#7 Be a sharer of good news. Rather than being a bearer of bad news, be a sharer of good news. You don’t need 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, inspiring things. 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.

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.