2016 was a big year in our recent history. We were living in London at the time.
The Brexit referendum kind of sucked the life out of the city for a while. Although the nation had voted and the result was clear, the impact was yet to be understood.
Then, when Trump was first elected in 2016, many of us were stunned for a few months after.
And flabbergasted.
Do you remember? Throughout his election campaign and as he settled into office, he’d come out with some of the most outrageous shite imaginable. Tweets and memes would go viral, we couldn’t believe what we were seeing.
“He couldn’t have said that” we’d exclaim. He had, he did.
“It’s like an episode of the Simpsons or South Park”, we’d observe. It was.
It still is.
However, 2016 also saw the arrival of Nico! He’s quite possibly the most joyful and positively disposed human being I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, nevermind knowing or loving. However, his first year wasn’t easy for him or us.
He had silent reflux.
We had a good idea what was going on before it was officially diagnosed or treated. The NHS (for sound reasons) wouldn’t prescribe medication to an infant until ALL other possibilities were ruled out.
So Nico just had to suffer it out. Kind of like the rest of us did with the news and media around Brexit and Trump. We had a to find a way forward without a magic pill.
Nico spent much of his first 9 months in pain during the night. The reflux would burn him inside and he’d cough, cry and puke. He seemed to sleep and rest more easily in a more upright position.
Ciara and I took turns with the little hot-water-bottle that was our son, sitting/dozing on our chest, through the night.
This meant broken sleep. And after a while, exhaustion crept in.
This then hindered my capacity to manage my state, or live life on my terms, during the day and working week.
I’d get sucked into distraction on my phone. I’d be less productive and I’d only achieve some of the goals I had set myself week in, week out
Trump, Boris and other clowns like them would get lots of airtime with the media. And in conversation too.
For a while at least, I let them into my world. Like a virus, or a poison, they eroded some of my strength and weakened my mindset.
That’s when I realised how debilitating it was, the media, the never-ending conversation that was founded in fear. I was worrying about things I couldn’t control or influence.
On close inspection, our feared situation (in any area of life) is rarely as bad as we think.
The silent reflux for a then 38 year old.
A mentor at the time asked me why I tuned into any mainstream media at all. I hadn’t ever thought about this.
After a career in financial and professional services, I was just conditioned to do so. My answer was “I just do, how else can I stay in touch with what’s going on?”
He challenged me to a week of no mainstream news or media. None on the tv or radio, no newspapers and no sites via my phone or laptop.
After a week I was surprised to report that I hadn’t missed it at all.
In fact, I had more energy, I was more productive and I felt calmer.
Since then, I’ve naturally limited my exposure to news and media. I replaced it with content of a different nature.
I don’t have any hard rules about it.
I find out what I need to find out through other sources. If it’s really important, someone tells you!
- What media do you engage with repeatedly?
- How does this shape your views?
It’s worth considering this. Your beliefs, subconsciously, will be shaped somehow by the consistent messaging you’re exposed to.
Whilst I’m asking you about the media here, I’m sure you can see how the same might be true for your inner circle, a corporate culture or a family figure.
Things are never as good or as bad as they seem. Be mindful of the frequency that you’re tuning into.