I keep being amazed with the reactions I get from people when I suggest a few simple actions to declutter their life from negative influences. Just so I get you all going at me as well here’s a few suggestions: Stop watching the news, reading the papers and watching soaps and ‘reality’ TV. Are you still reading? Thanks J

 

I’m not asking you to take my word for it. Try it for a couple of days. There’s only one proviso. Do something you really like with the time it frees up. Whatever that is, as long as it is something you like and is ‘good’ for YOU!

 

I’ve tried it and am 95% successful at not doing the things listed (I’ve added a few other things that are personal and stopped doing them as well). I am as a result generally feeling happier, more energetic, prepared to do more for others, less judgmental and definitely less angry about things. It freed up ‘me’ time and it also allowed for me to share and collaborate with others to start creating hubs of creative thinking people for the benefit of everybody! I’m sorry if the rest of this article has a bit of a negative undertone, it is merely so for demonstrative purposes.

 

Where does the title come from I hear you ask? When we watch those programmes or follow current affairs we get dragged into the Blame Game or into Schadenfreude. The vast majority of politics or corporate culture works on the Blame Game and the carcasses of others. It is all about how much you have, what do you own and who have you conquered? Competition is the be all and end all and others need to be destroyed en route to success which is measured in possessions.

 

The TV news fails to break the mould. It predominantly brings ‘bad’ news. As if that is all that exists. As if there are no newsworthy good people or inspirational events. They do this for the reasons above. Keep you thinking in the Blame Game because that way you are not looking for answers or solutions to the bigger picture. And that suits the people in power fine as they are in control and shiver at the thought of confrontation with their destructive ways. They make you feel it is your fate to be who you are. Where did I hear that before??

 

Then there are the soaps and reality TV series. That’s where Schadenfreude comes to play. Schadenfreude comes from the German words Schaden or harm and Freude or joy. According to Collins dictionary it means ‘one person’s delight in another’s misfortune’. By seeing others suffer, row, fight and behave badly or live in misery we comfort ourselves to believe that our Fate is not that bad after all. So why question it??

 

In the mean time our planet’s health is in jeopardy, people are at war in several parts of the world, fanatics are trying to use religions to justify destruction, our health care is in tatters, our kids sit in overcrowded schools, there is severe poverty and malnutrition and so on and so on.

 

It is high time to start thinking differently. It is 23.55 and the clock is ticking. It is time to stop the ‘them and us’ way of life. We can all do more than we know. We can all change the world. Each one of us can. It is time to start thinking big (thanks to Michael Port for the idea – check ThinkBigRevolution.com and join us in the thinking big revolution)!!

 

As Michael said in his fantastic book (The Think Big Manifesto), thinking big is not about accumulation of possessions, fame, friends, or influence. Though you may get financial rewards it is not about getting rich. It is about collaboration and cooperation instead of competition. And it starts with us, one person at a time. It is about sharing what we are best at and enriching each other. Whatever that may be. We all have something wonderful to contribute to the world. We just have to know we do first. You can, I can, we all can!! Make that choice today and forevermore. Join us in the revolution on the website or via the book or by giving me a shout.

 

Switch off that TV and switch on your brain!!! I promise you in return increased happiness, self belief, self esteem; improved relationships and more energy. Can you afford to let that offer slip by????

 

Have a great day and talk soon

 

Patrick

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