Mindful Media Consumption: Elevating Your Entertainment Choices for Personal Growth
Our mind is made of what we feed it.
They say you are what you eat, but are we the reflection of the media we consume as well? In today’s day and age, hundreds of millions of people are pumping out content daily. It’s hard not to get lost on your FYP (for you page) instead of consuming the content we really want.
These days, many of us are scrolling through our for-you pages or just checking out what the algorithm recommends. It doesn't matter where we consume content, whether its on YouTube, Instagram, movies, TV shows, or even Medium. We continue to consume what is put in front of us rather than going out of our way to find true thought-provoking content that resonates with us.
Purpose of Mindful Media Consumption:
It is true that what we watch or read has an effect on us in many ways. It impacts us mentally as well as emotionally. What mindful media consumption revolves around is realizing whether the content that we consume contributes to stress, anxiety, or negativity and consciously choosing alternatives that promote relaxation, inspiration, or learning.
Opting out of content that mindlessly distracts us and instead choosing something that not only entertains us but also educates us is the way to go. We should take the time to choose content that enriches our understanding, gives us actual joy or challenges our perspectives
“What the mass media offers is not popular art but entertainment which is intended to be consumed like food, forgotten, and replaced by a new dish “— W.H Auden
Choosing Quality over Quantity of Content:
Short-form content like TikTok, Instagram reels, or YouTube shorts is the perfect example of this. Our dopamine receptors have been fried off so much from consuming short-form content that our attention spans cannot handle videos longer than 30 seconds.
Of course, this doesn’t count short-form content that is genuinely informative, but most of the short-form content we consume provides no value whatsoever.
This is not just about taking a dig at short-form; it also includes all the useless videos and articles that do not have any good merit for us. Our hearts and minds will always be more fully satisfied by high-quality content.
Balancing Entertainment with Purpose:
A month ago, I wrote an article, “Think only of your Art” which expounded on why we should always strive to live a life of purpose and that all of our actions should move us toward our goals. The stuff that we consume doesn’t have to be devoid of purpose. We can try to absorb content that aligns with our purpose and goals. This might involve mixing leisurely activities with content that challenges, inspires, or motivates us.
In this world where content and media in general have become an integral part of our lives, adopting a concise mindset of consuming what is good and bad for us will take us a long way.
Thanks for reading, vale 💞💞!
Be sure to also check out:
My love for Art/Storytelling:
A good purpose:
