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32 Where do you look?
I have no use for newscasts showing major
fires. That information is useful to the fire department, but it
does nothing to enrich my life. Let us shift our attention
away from this kind of news. This suggestion is not the
opposing and condemning protest we left behind in the last
article. Instead, it is about redirecting away from collecting
and preserving all the unhappiness of the world.
Paris was well rehearsed to minimize the
tragedy at Notre Dame. Let us not fall into a syndrome of
self-pity over our losses. There is encouraging balm to be
distributed; there is positive mental attitude to be shared
without being overcome by spiritual smoke.
It is not useful for us
to wallow in what is wrong. News of tragedies is not character
building. It is a waste of time for non-professionals to watch
burning buildings, natural disasters, and crime reports. In the
absence of positive suggestions, constantly dwelling on
shortcomings distracts attention and saps energy.
On the other hand, we
take strength from learning about scientific breakthroughs and
personal development successes. This is the news we
follow. Awareness encourages progress as we identify with
successful efforts. Our future stands in contrast to the
imperfect past.
I am not entertaining my
readers with Pollyannaish fantasies. Instead I am vigorously
redirecting awareness from the bad that we replace
to the good that we reach. We do not climb up by looking
down.
Being For Others Blog copyright © 2020 Kent Busse
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