In a world as hyper-connected as ours, navigating the news landscape is akin to tiptoeing through a minefield. The deluge of news, both real and fake, bombarding us is quite an overload. Whether it’s through traditional media outlets, social platforms, and even our messaging apps we are constantly consuming and this does not only influence our perspectives but dare I say, it’s also dictates out mental wellbeing.
This is something I have been reflecting on for a while. I couldn’t find a way to describe it precisely until a comment from a panelists at the Global Action Now forum event I attended earlier this past month. “Learn to control your news diet.” A light bulb moment for me. I realized that controlling my news diet wasn't just about staying informed—it was about safeguarding my peace of mind.
Picture this: every time you reach for your phone or switch on the TV, you're bombarded with a tsunami of headlines, opinions, and catastrophes. It's a wild ride, and not always in a good way. Now, WhatsApp has added channels, many of which are news sites. Even Skype has followed suit. Wherever you look, someone wants to hit you with the headlines. Then you have the CNNs of this world—they'll talk about the issue before it happens and analyze it after it happens until the cows come home.
I recall a period when my emotions mirrored a rollercoaster ride, swinging between intense outrage and deep despair, all triggered by my news consumption patterns. It felt like weathering a relentless storm, clutching onto a fragile umbrella woven from unreliable information.
X, formerly, Twitter served as one of these triggers, especially concerning news about my country. Given the tumultuous state of affairs in Zimbabwe, the news stream was a mix of good and bad, real and fake, blurring the lines between them. The overwhelming negativity that accompanied every update from Zimbabwe became taxing. There threads of comments that followed each post, let me not go there.
Upon reflection, I initially believed the solution lay in unfollowing certain accounts, but soon realized that wasn't sufficient. I took the step to delete the app from my phone. Since then, I've noticed a shift in my outlook—I now tend to speak and think more positively about my country. The challenges persist, but I've become more discerning about my news consumption habits concerning Zimbabwe.
It’s a tough act to curate one’s news intake, sifting through the noise to find the signal. We are addicted to the headlines, the constant scrolling, the notifications. It has taken me a while to realize I have started applying this wisdom to my news habits, filtering out the noise and honing in on quality sources and the right quantity of news that inform me but at the same time nourish rather than drained my mind.
It’s a learning journey, I am embracing a more discerning approach to news consumption. I am learning to balance awareness with inner peace, staying informed without letting the headlines dictate my emotions.
In crafting my news diet, I've discovered a newfound sense of empowerment and clarity. As an African proverb wisely states, "Knowledge without wisdom is like water in the sand." By seeking wisdom in the news I consume, I've transformed my relationship with information from chaos to coherence.
So, dear reader, I urge you to ponder your own news diet. Are you feasting on a buffet of sensationalism and fear, or are you savoring a balanced meal of insight and understanding? Remember, in this fast-paced world, it's not just about what you know—it's about how you choose to know it.
Stay curious, stay discerning, and above all, stay wise in your consumption of the news buffet.
