Are you using social media to connect with joy, or fear?

 As I scroll through my social media accounts, I notice that the joy is slowly being drained out of me, and replaced with fear, and anger. There are countless causes and tragedies which desperately need our attention. As I started to realize what was happening, I decided it was important to focus on positive changes, instead of getting gridlocked into the negativity. Why do we, as a human race, want to focus on the negative so much? Are we steeped in fear from the beginning? Perhaps it is time to achieve a balance.

I have long noted a phenomenon which seems to afflict some more than others, I call it being a "news junkie." The one thing these people seem to have in common is a deep seated unhappiness and lack of personal fulfillment. They seem to find satisfaction in the many causes and outrages perpetuated by society, and they scream and argue without really becoming involved on any tangible level. I had a very short dating stint with a man such as this, and he could not go more than a few hours without watching the news. It was an addiction, and one that very quickly interfered with our relationship and ultimately ended it. Even though I agreed with his political views, I just could not stomach the constant barrage of negativity that he seemed to feed off of. There was no balance, and no connection to joy. 

Today, I challenge you to notice if you are becoming sucked into any kind of drama or negativity, and perhaps, make a different choice. It's easy enough to step away from your social media, a text, or the sad videos on YouTube. How can you contribute in a positive way and reverse that flow? I like to donate money (doesn't have to be a lot) to the causes I am most passionate about. If possible, I will help send emails, or post about solutions on my social media. If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. 

Connect with your joy and leave the negativity behind!