I, like many have used the quote ‘No news is good news’ on numerous occasions, but it is only recently that I have used this as a way to improve my life. Up until a year ago I was one of lifes news obsessed worriers, a trait past down to me by my mother and fully embellished by myself. On more than one occasion I have truly believed that I and the whole human race where on the edge of annihilation, only to live another 10, 20, 30 years.

 It seemed to me that every depressing tale was a build up to the next world war, great plague or mass starvation. The news does it’s best to enforce a view that we live on the verge of total social break down. It became glaringly obvious to me that whatever these events were which were to lead to the end of civilisation; I was most of the time powerless to stop them.

 Hours, days and months of my life were used up in fear, much like a broker watches the stocks, I track the news allowing it to consume whole slices of my life. This constant barrage of despair was disempowering me and turning me into a harbinger of doom. I was so immersed in this gloom that I had completely over looked how much the news was damaging my mental health, not to mention restricting my lifestyle.

 Then one day I simply unplugged from the news matrix: the pictures, the voices and the reams of words ended. Without a doubt the change to my daily life was profound. You can be sure that keeping the news at bay was not easy; it is everywhere, even my web browser delighted in letting me know the worst, till I found more positive alternatives. Well meaning friends and family tried to fill me in on the gloom, but I had to just ask them to stop or walk away.

 As of writing I'm virtually clueless as to what is going on in the news. The obvious thing most will say is that I’m just hiding from life. That may be true to some extent, but it is for my own well being. Just like a former alcoholic who must avoid drink, to stop the addiction taking hold again, no good can come from me engaging events that are beyond my control.

 For many the news is just a gleeful voyeuristic play of pain and suffering. They may believe this information has no effect on them, but by indulging this warped representation of life, the media monster grows ever stronger. It could be argued that we are now in a time when networks no longer just report the news; they are ultimately responsible for its creation. I would say with great certainty that many of the killings, bombings, rapes and abuses we see in our modern world are inspired by what is seen on the news today.

 This media form can clearly be seen as giving the perpetrators of evil a sick form of world celebrity and extreme groups the recognition they need. It is unfair to brand Fictional movies solely to blame for our perceived violent world, in homes that would think twice before viewing a horror film, the news is sometimes on 24 hours a day. Should this branch of the media come with certification or a health warning? I think it would be worth some very deep consideration.

 If you believe the world is only full of negativity, I would suggest that it’s your time to reduce your intake of this disempowering media circus. Switch it off, or turn it down, keep it out of your letter box, or delete it from your inbox. Take back control of your life and seek out the good, it’s out there and far more abundant than the current news forms would have you believe.

 © Tony pinfold 07 all rights reserved

Author's Bio: 

About Me Tony Pinfold

I am a full time Visionary Artist, Speaker, Author and Podcast presenter.

First and foremost I’m a visionary artist who produces open edition prints. Their meanings touch on spiritual concepts and lifes’ many powerful emotions and perceptions which when allowed to become out of balance, can be very disempowering to the mind and body.

I currently have over 44 images in my visionary art range. They are created using photographs I have taken of the world around me, both organic and man made. I sell this work via my website and the many MBS shows which my wife and I really enjoy attending up and down the UK.

I started my current style of art in late 2006, but I’ve been a digital artist since 1993. During that time I lived in America and attended the Seattle Arts Institute for a while (I not a big fan of formal education it stifles creativity).

My first work ‘Oppressed’ not only describes my emotional state at that time, but through the creation process it offered me up a new way of viewing the world. It asked me to question all the answers to life I had been given and to challenge all my daily perceptions. In just over a year, I have built up a small but successful company and turned a mindset that was for 40 years tipped into the negative to a point of balance.

For me balance is the key to all things in life. Too often I see people on a spiritual path in denial of all the things they once enjoyed. And after a few months they crash and give it all up. Many peoples lives are so skewed to the negative that to attempt to switch to a life full of Love, Light and positive thinking is a step too far, too quickly.

My spiritual beliefs are always evolving, but I live by my mini mantra that I wrote last year which sums up my way of thinking quite concisely…..

Question everything and rejoice in the honesty that we know very little.
Understand all life is precious and is to be respected.
Have regard for those with different beliefs to our own.
Fight the egos wish for separation and see we are all one.
Understand that in our current form the only certainty is there is none.

I believe that the universe was set in motion by a divine energy which still flows though and links all of us. I choose to view the world through the eyes that all is possible until proven otherwise. Religion, Spirituality and Science only become oppressive when those that peddle their theories believe they are solely right…I feel no need to justify what I believe and do, nor do I wish to prove any of the theories. You either take it or leave it. It matters not. The key for me is to be happy and from that all things are possible. This is a lot easier said then done, as the world media seems to be obsessed with in dwelling in the negative and spreading disease.

The concepts behind my work have now evolved into a book which I hope will be out late April. I also produce a monthly podcast ‘Even when it Rains’.

I hope that you enjoy viewing my page and believe that all positive human contact no matter how superficial can only be for the good. I look forward to hearing from you.

Namaste Tony