What are you worried about?
What are your concerns today?
Are you stocking up on bug repellent to ward off the Zika virus?
Are you watching the news intently to see if the next batch of refugees will be airdropped into your neighborhood?
Do you have the movers on stand-by pending the results of the next presidential election?
Do you long for the good-ole days when your biggest worries were about your kids’ future, having an adequate retirement plan, or paying your bills on time? Well, you’re not alone. Every week – and sometimes more frequently – some tasty morsel of perceived controversy is offered up to the masses to whet their appetite for public outcry. Lately, the opinion generator has been Colin Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the national anthem. Everyone seems to be talking about it – most entertaining of all, the social media “sharers.” The sharing of opinions has become so commonplace we almost can’t help but be caught in the wake, making us feel more compelled to share our own thoughts.
The funny thing about most of these issues is that they wouldn’t have been given a second thought if they had not been blasted over the airwaves and Ethernet cables.
For example, there is no question that the presidential election is important. It is not, however, important enough to discuss EVERY DAY. Most people already know for whom they will be voting, if they are voting at all, so why do we still talk about the candidates? Is it a lastditch effort to sway the undecided, or are we all just caught in the wake?
News of the Zika virus has spread with much more ferocity than the virus itself. Being conscientious and prepared is one thing, but I suspect that the constant coverage only serves to encourage people to worry about something at a level disproportionate to the actual problem (Remember the recent Ebola “outbreak” in the U.S.?). When we are no longer worried, the media will stop covering it.
Our concerns power the machine.
Consider Kaepernick’s decision to sit during the national anthem. Why are we so concerned with that? Whether you feel he should have stood or you applaud his choice to protest as he pleases, your deep concern doesn’t add any value to your life.
Some may say, “It’s not just about me; it’s about respect.” You may not be aware, but there are, quite literally, millions of Americans who do not stand when the national anthem plays, who do not place their hand over their heart and pledge their allegiance to the flag. Some have objections based on their religion; some have political objections. A few just don’t care to do it. However, none of those decisions to sit ever changed who or what we are as a country. The fact that they can choose to sit is a part of what makes our country so great.
Not everything that appears on national news is worthy of our digestion.
We have the ability to discern what is actually pertinent to our lives. We shouldn’t let outside influences (i.e. mainstream media, other people) dictate what we worry about. Worry alters our view of the world. Worry causes stress. Worry prevents us from living in and appreciating the moment.
According to inspirational author Dr. Leo Buscaglia, “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow; it only saps today of its joy.” Bobby McFerrin famously sang, “Don’t worry – be happy.” Jesus asks us, “Can all of your worries add a single moment to your life?” (Matthew 6:27). Instead of allowing more things into our lives to stress over, let’s find ways to eliminate worries.
Let us make it our goal to develop a more “problem-free philosophy.”
Hakuna matata.