Fix Yo’Self: How To Avoid Being Brainwashed

Let’s face it. We’re all a bit brainwashed.

I mean… Think about it. I for one know that I’m being brainwashed in some capacity, and I continue to let it happen (I majored in marketing, after all). Why? Because fighting the system is really difficult and I’m not the type to “stand up to the man.” I’m sure the man is brainwashed somehow, too. So, I digress. But there are steps you can take to be less brainwashed! (Kind of).

Let’s look into a day of the life of the typical American taxpayer. We all wake up in the mornings, get in our regulation four door “new-ish” sedan, enter into a freeway battle that’s reminiscent of a Grand Theft Auto campaign, arrive at work a bit defeated, and plug away for 8–9 hours on a laptop that hasn’t seen the assembly line since 2010. Certainly there’s “gotta be more to life” (enter Stacie Orico song circa 2003).

But if we can be brainwashed into handing over the precious time we have to live on this earth, certainly we’ll let someone else also determine what’s optimal in terms of food, entertainment, ideals, beliefs, and maybe even thoughts… (that’s a scary one). I’ve done some pretty deep thinking here and I think I’ve finally come up with a solution to the dry, boring prophecies with which we are all essentially “cursed.” It’s rather elementary Jeeves… You need to question everything. I’m not talking your life or purpose (at least not at first). In order to realize how much you’re brainwashed, start questioning the little things.

When you wake up in the mornings. Why are you you so tired? Did you go to bed too late last night because your friends convinced you to stay a little longer at the bar? Do you have an addiction to caffeine that’s affecting your shut eye? Do you have anxieties and worries beating you up about events that have already happened or haven’t EVEN happened? Well my friend, looks like we’re going to have to start at square one.

First off, going through every day groggy and not truly conscious is allowing you to be enticed by messages and ideals that you just don’t have the energy to question. Stop that! Your sleep is more important than your friends. I’m serious. I’m not trying to diss your friends, but people that truly care about you are going to understand that you don’t want to be sleepy and miserable as a result of staying up with them. Saying no will make them upset, but it will set you free. You can apply this to more than one facet of your life. If there are people that constantly force you into situations with which you aren’t so happy, you are doing yourself a favor by bringing this up to them and letting them know it’s not okay. Should they continue, I would encourage you to spend time with people who do understand and respect your wishes.

Next up, the coffee thing. Have you noticed how we over romanticize the idea of coffee? It’s literally a cup of brewed stimulant. We have a multi-billion dollar industry pushing marketing, movies, and god knows what else in our faces that makes the coffee shop the “cool, creative thing.” It’s a cup of ground up watery bean juice. Settle down, coffee lovers. *Enter someone that wants to let me know all of the benefits of drinking coffee.* TRUST ME, I KNOW. But some of those benefits are helping you fight through things that you need to resolve… Sleeplessness? Lack of focus? Colon cleansing? Coffee isn’t the answer. It’s a cover up. If you really want to wake up and be conscious every day, give up the bean juice. And alcohol while you’re at it. If in a month and a half you don’t feel like another person, let me know and I’ll find at least 20 other things you could change that WILL make you feel better.

These are just two things that you can fix… And we’re only on when you wake up in the mornings! The third thing I have yet to delve into… Analyzing whether or not you have anxieties, worries, fears, regrets, angers, and sadnesses (yes, that’s actually a word) to deal with. This is a tough one. I’ve had some pretty crazy things happen in my past that I have let eat away at my soul for years. Most of the time I wouldn’t even admit that they happened. This caused a great deal of anger, depression, and anxiety with which I did not intend on dealing. If you are reading this, and are a little unsure as to if you want to admit you have this problem, you’ve got the problem. Let’s deal with it. First thing I would recommend, if you are really frustrated or angry, try working out a little bit. You can do small workouts in your apartment, at a gym, or wherever you are most comfortable. Heck, jump up and down to some music for ten minutes! Channel your frustration into the workout, and you’ll feel at least a little better. Another recommendation — write out your problems. Regardless of your beliefs, write to a higher power or even your past/future self. Ask questions, and just keep writing. Detail your experience. Sometimes you’re going to cry. That’s okay. You’re going to get through this. Take these letters and read them over and over again until they no longer bother you. After that, burn them. You’ll notice that maybe you’re sleeping better than you were a year ago.

These are SOME ways you can get out of your groggy unconscious life. Feeling awake and alive are two of the greatest gifts you can ever give yourself… Don’t let pain or self doubt stop you. You are the only person who is going to help you. Don’t let your own walls stop you from truly moving beyond them and experiencing the world while you still have the chance.

Yes, this was only one part of the day. But sleep is very important! I have many other recommendations… But I knew no one was going to read a 12 page article on rising to consciousness. So I’ll write this in parts. Until then, question everything!