I’m just going to say it – I hate reading news headlines. They all make me either angry, or sad. Those are always the only two emotions. Not excited, not hopeful, not happy. Nope, it’s always bad. Especially this year with everything we have been dealing with for months now, I’ve been really trying to avoid the news as much as possible. I came across something the other day that really made me think, and helped me to decide that from now on, I’m going to write my own headlines.
I don’t watch the news every day
While I may not be fully aware of every little thing that is currently being shared in the news, I can tell you with certainty that I already know the overall themes, and they aren’t positive. Honestly, it’s pretty depressing. It’s almost as if news outlets are trying to incite anger and fear in people. (Did you sense the sarcasm there?)
I can’t stand those click-bait titles that strike fear inside you, and then when you read the article, it is only spewing out the same garbage facts you already knew and didn’t need to hear again. This effect is only multiplied when people choose to share these stories, or talk about them with others. It’s a never-ending cycle.
Of all of the recent headlines in the news, not one of them is positive. How is that possible? It’s because the negative things are so easy to focus on. They stir up the biggest emotional response. It’s gotten to the point where we are surprised when we actually hear a story of something good that happened. It seems like these stories are so few and far between. Of course they happen, but it’s so rare that these things get reported or shared.
A change in perspective
Last week, I came across a story online that really made me think. It said,
“Sometimes I just want to stop. Talk of Covid, protests, looting, brutality. I lose my way. I become convinced that this ‘new normal ‘ is real life. Then I meet an 87 year old who talks of living through polio, diphtheria, Vietnam protests and yet, is still enchanted with life. He seemed surprised when I said that 2020 must be especially challenging for him. ‘No’ he said slowly, looking me straight in the eyes. ‘I learned a long time ago to not see the world through the printed headlines, I see the world through the people that surround me. I see the world with the realization that we love big. Therefore, I just choose to write my own headlines.’
‘Husband loves wife today.’
‘Family drops everything to come to Grandma’s bedside.’
‘Old man makes new friend.’
The story made me realize two things:
- If you don’t like something, you have the power to do something about it
- It’s all in how you choose to look at things
My new plan
It’s just so beautiful, and such a perfect way of looking at life. Knowing that there is more to everything than all of the negativity that you see day in and day out. The good is there. It’s always been there, you just have to choose to see it. When you start the habit of looking for the good, the world will give you more good to notice and experience.
I had a conversation with a friend of mine about this story, and we agreed that from now on, we wanted to write our own headlines each day, and make sure to share them with others.
When you decide to write your own headlines and see the beauty in everything, the world doesn’t seem like such a scary, evil place. You get to control the narrative. That doesn’t mean that you ignore all of the issues of the world and pretend that they don’t exist. It means that you are actively choosing not to let that be the only thing that you allow to direct your thoughts and your life.
Go out today and write your own amazing, beautiful, powerful headlines!
xo
*Interested in the importance of staying positive? Check out my post “The Power of a Positive Mindset.”
