How About a Little GOOD News?!

When was the last time you listened to the news and heard nothing but positive stories? Are you done laughing now? What's that, you've never heard a news broadcast with nothing but good news? Me either. The idea probably sounds ridiculous doesn't it? So what about this question, 'when was the last time you listened to a news report with nothing but negative news?' A little easier to remember a time like that?

This morning I turned on the radio, as I do every morning, and the lead story was about a horrible accident. A freak natural gas explosion on a resort in Mexico had killed 7 people. One of them a child. Five of them Canadian. Sad story. My question is this, 'should this be lead story on the local radio news in New Brunswick?' I can remember back during the great H1N1 scare of last winter, hearing lead stories here in NB about 1 person dying in Mexico, or France or Russia. Again, my question is, 'should this be leading news in NB, Canada?' It seems to me that sometimes news outlets are so desperate to find some tragedy to talk about that they'll literally go to the other side of the world to find one! How messed up is that?

Let me be clear. I'm not suggesting that we stick our heads in the sand, pretend that nothing bad ever happens and report only happy, smiley news stories. But I would like to see some reason and balance. We are bombarded with negative news everyday. Is it any wonder that so many people struggle with pessimism and cynicism?

Twenty years ago this wasn't much of an issue. The news came on once a night, you watched or listened and knew what was going on without having to endure the horrors of the world multiple times. But in today's 24hr news cycle, with CNN running 24/7, you don't just hear bad news, if you choose, you can hear, read, see bad news constantly and multiple times over each day.

I encourage you to watch what you're watching. Monitor how much you expose yourself to the negative news around you, and don't let too much of the negativity into your head. Again, I don't want you to think that I'm advocating the life of a hermit. Nothing would ever improve in the world if those who cared to make it better stuck their heads in the sand and pretended nothing needed changing. However, we need not overwhelm ourselves with constant exposure to negativity either.

Studying the worlds most successful people, I've learned that many of them have a practice of listening to motivational/personal development CD's or Books on CD when driving in the car or at home, rather than listening to the news or the radio. What would happen to your life if you were constantly inputting positive thoughts and inspiring ideas in your head rather than the negative news?

Try it this week and see what happens? My guess is, you'll never go back to the old way again!