“The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.” ~Epictetus
Facebook has given us a secret window into other people’s worlds that we may not have had otherwise. It’s helped me rekindle some relationships from the past that would have otherwise been lost. I’ve certainly made some new friends since living my life online. It’s convenient, easy and sometimes even a little fun. Except when people complain. About everything. All of the time.
Twitter has also been a great resource for me as far as networking, but I have rarely found a Tweet to actually be useful. Okay, maybe some of Wired‘s Tweets grab my attention. Most of the babble that is tweeted is meaningless, offensive or so out of context by the time you see it, it reads like mud.
Rozine surrounds herself with Yoda and a smiling pirate.
Then there are TV shows that demonstrate how dysfunctional a family or relationship can be. These shows encourage us to celebrate dysfunction. This is a way to demonstrate that our lives are somehow better in comparison. As if we turn the show off thinking “Wow, at least my family isn’t like that!” I think there might be a misunderstanding, though. If we feel better after deciding that someone else is worse off, we are in no way motivated to grow. We see a worse-off situation and think “Okay – I’m good. Right where I’m at. No need to tackle my own issues or problems.”
Last week, I blogged about choosing your friends wisely. Today’s quote by Epictetus implies the same exact message. I’m applying it to what we view online and on television because I want you to become aware of the magnitude of influences you are exposed to. Hide the cranky people on Facebook and Twitter and look for the inspirational and funny posts. Use the same filter when flipping through shows on TV or choosing which movie to watch. Keep company with inspiration, motivation and positive energy and watch your spirit reflect those qualities. Try it for one week and see if you notice a difference in your mood or behavior.
Hello! [...] thank you for this interesting article! =) Peace, Joy.
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Give yourself time. When you realize that you want nothing more than to accomplish great things, you’ll have infinite power to do so. You’ll see! Simply take that first step.