“You are what you eat.” We all know that to be true. But perhaps, in a deeper sense, “you are what you consume” would be a better mantra for our modern age. Consumption includes not just the material nutrition you eat, but all that you feed your mind as well. Today, most of us are taking in far more “calories” by way of ideas and messages than by food that are shaping us no less.
Our diet should be assessed and refined from time to time to optimize our health. In the same way, we should adjust the media we consume, in all its forms, to optimize our mental and spiritual states. You can always cancel your subscription to that streaming service, unsubscribe from that email list, unfollow that influencer, or toss that book into the donation pile if they’re no longer serving you.
It can be easy to underestimate the power and influence media has on our lives, but remembering that we control our consumption can empower us to improve the quality of the ideas and influences being invited into our hearts and minds.
There are clues you can look for to determine if something you’re consuming is doing more harm than good. Here are four signs that it’s time to let go of what has your attention.
Resentment
If you find yourself disliking or hating people that you don’t know in real life, or feeling disdain for someone because they believe something or belong to a certain group, you might want to look at the media you’ve been consuming.
It’s one thing to come to different understandings of how things should be done or fundamental principles of right and wrong, but it’s another thing to foster hatred. When we take a step back, it’s evident that, though our experiences of life and understandings can differ, we are all human beings who experience joy and sadness, fear and excitement, worry and happiness. Everyone is capable of good, and everyone has parts of themselves that could be improved.
Agitation
If you find yourself getting angry and affected after looking at media, consider whether that’s the state you want to carry through your workday, at home to your family, or to any environment where you aim to be a positive presence.
There are always plenty of negative and troubling realities to focus on, if you choose. On the other hand, there are also plenty of positive and encouraging aspects of life unfolding every day. You just have to look for them.
Comparison
If you find yourself disappointed with your lot in life, pining away for things or experiences you see other people enjoying on the internet, or comparing the inevitable struggles of your life with other people’s lives online, it’s time to adjust your feed.
It can be easy to forget that some, if not most, of what’s portrayed online is completely manufactured and untrue, or at least curated into highlight reels. The struggles might not show up on Instagram, but everyone struggles, of course.
When the media you’re consuming is convincing you that your life isn’t good enough—when it leads you to ungratefulness, or when it distracts you from the beauty and wonder of your own life—it’s time to reconsider the messages you’re consuming.
Addiction
Sometimes, the problem is that the media you’re consuming is so entertaining, so adept at delivering hits of dopamine, that you can’t bring yourself to look anywhere else. As AI takes over the job of directing the algorithms of streaming services and social media channels, the content that is delivered to our eyes will seem more and more exactly like what we’d prefer to continue seeing.
It takes willpower and determination to intentionally establish healthy habits when it comes to consuming media. If you find yourself regularly looking up from your screen, wondering how on earth so much time has passed by, it’s time to reconsider how often you want to be consuming media at all.
Try to replace media consumption with healthier activities, like walking outside without your phone, reading a book, face-to-face conversations with friends and loved ones, or simply sitting in silence. These activities can feel like luxuries to someone who has let media consumption get the best of them for a while.
You are what you consume. Every so often, it’s time to renegotiate what you allow to get past the gate of your mind, heart, and spirit. Keep those standards high.
