“Drama, combat, terror, numbness, and subservience-every day these things wipe out your sacred principles, whenever your mind entertains them uncritically or lets them slip in.”
-MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 10.9
How much harder is it to do the right thing when you’re surrounded by people with low standards? How much harder is it to be positive and empathetic inside the negativity bubble of television chatter? How much harder is it to focus on your own issues when you’re distracted with other people’s drama and conflict?
We’ll inevitably be exposed to these influences at some point, no matter how much we try to avoid them. But when we are, there is nothing that says we have to allow those influences to penetrate our minds.We have the ability to put our guard up and decide what we actually allow in. Uninvited guests might arrive at your home, but you don’t have to ask them to stay for dinner. You don’t have to let them into your mind.
Holiday, R., & Hanselman, S. (2016). The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living. Portfolio.
Social media, much like an ever-buzzing marketplace of ideas and emotions, amplifies the challenge of maintaining our principles amidst a cacophony of distractions, negativity, and unvetted information. The relentless stream of drama, conflict, and sensationalism vies for our attention, testing our resolve to uphold our standards and focus on what truly matters. Just as we can choose not to let the negativity of television chatter or the influence of those around us with lower standards affect our inner peace and judgments, we possess the same power of discretion with social media. It requires conscious effort to curate our digital environment, to engage with content that enriches rather than depletes, and to actively shield our mental space from the tumult that seeks entry. We decide which ‘guests’ to entertain and which to leave at the doorstep of our attention, asserting control over our digital experiences to foster positivity, empathy, and self-growth amidst the noise.
My Daily Stoic: