Today is voting day. So, I felt it was the right time to blog about information overload. However, this blog is written to guide others in day-to-day living, not just one day.
There are a lot of people out there plagued by feelings of hurt, fear or guilt. Or, they have made poor choices in the past and are now constantly battling these demons. They are lost, feel alone, and desperately need help. They seek help by crying out on social media or searching the internet. They might make an appointment with a life coach, or a certified therapist. They might seek help from a church, or find a self-help book. I pray these people find the light, and soon. I pray they find the RIGHT help, what works for them and will never hurt them. I pray they see their angels.
There is so much information out there that it’s become a problem. Some people are truly trying to help but in actuality are causing harm. Others are predators. They seek someone to join their agenda or want to take advantage and steal your money. There are also power seekers such as cult leaders. And fanatics of some sort who want you to join them.
Google describes religious fanaticism as uncritical zeal or with an obsessive enthusiasm related to one’s own, or one’s group’s devotion to a religion. Meaning they accept only their own beliefs and not others. But I think fanatics are people with unstable minds who have twisted truths and committed radical acts in the name of their beliefs. Every religion, and even today’s new-age spiritualists, have some fanatics. Christianity, Islam, Hindu, Jewish, and if you go back far enough in history even Buddhism has had fanatics (sometimes it’s political—be it war or rebellion or some agenda, sometimes it’s racial, sometimes it’s power hungry haters, sometimes it’s the unstable minds seeking other unstable minds in order to breed darkness—the point is that they are out there).
Let me tell you one thing first and foremost: Anyone who hurts another physically (by harm or encouraging self-harm), mentally (by belittling or any other form of mental abuse), or spiritually (by brainwashing) is NOT someone you want to follow. When it comes to voting we might need to suspend our dislike for the political game and find our facts on our own. We might need to prioritize what is most important to us and make our decision based on this. We need to find out who is more trustworthy. Who actually does what they say? Who are the liars? In day-to-day living, we have more choices to make, but the main question remains the same: how do we know who to trust?
We can DO OUR OWN RESEARCH. In this age of information overload, it is ironic that it’s actually more difficult to find out the truths because there are so many unreliable sources out there. Scientific, academic or peer-reviewed journals are usually, but not always, reliable. Also, trust percentages more than total number statistics. Most importantly, find out if the person’s results are good—the author, the candidate, the doctor, the new friend, etc. Their teaching, their children, their students, and their past activities and those thereafter will show this.
CHECK SCRIPTURE. If what your teacher/preacher/counselor/guru/therapist/author/etc. is telling you lines up with the New Testament, then it is more likely good, right teaching (even if it isn’t Christian-based teaching).
Life (and the Bible) has contradictions—but, if you look to your higher self, look to the Holy Spirit, look to LOVE, look into your heart, you will be able to see the truth. Pray for guidance. Prayer works.
Choosing what to believe in or who to trust in this age of information overload can be challenging, but don’t give up.
1- Do your research.
2- Does it line up with the Word?
3- Ask yourself: “Does it feel right to me?”
To expand on number three—Follow your heart. But also follow your mind.
Joy is different than happiness. Joy is pure and unselfish. Follow your heart. Does it give you joy, do you feel good about it?
Ask God for an answer. But how do you know if the answer is from God? Well, one way is to follow peace. God will give us a peaceful spirit about taking the next step. Decisions based on fear inevitably bring trouble. ALLOW GOD’S GUIDANCE.
By follow your mind I mean be reasonable. In one of her sermons, Joyce Meyer said, “Prudence is careful judgment that allows someone to avoid danger. The ability to govern and discipline one’s self by the use of reason.”
If you try to do what’s RIGHT and are careful about how you spend your time, and make good choices—really think about what you’re choosing do to—tell yourself the truth—you will be more likely to make the wise choice.
Some people are so lost that they don’t know the difference between right and wrong anymore. I think these people need to get away from their situation or get away from someone in particular for a while. Spending time alone can be helpful. Other people are lonely. To them, I say—you are not alone. God IS with you.
To highlight, I repeat: Tell yourself the truth.
Lastly, I’d just like to add, for those people who are hurting. Take care of yourself step-by-step. Start with good hygiene. Then, eat a healthy meal. Then, take a walk or do some light exercise or yoga. Then, clean up the place—get rid of the clutter. Next—meditate or do some relaxation techniques, balance your chakras, get a massage, or go to a chiropractor, or go to an acupuncturist—do this once in a while. Live like this, taking care of yourself. And, pick up the Bible. Read the Psalms. The point I’m making here is to take action, even a little step.
If you find yourself feeling a dark emotion ask yourself when was the first time you felt this way. Allow it. Then, let it go. Doing this brings awareness. Awareness brings healing. This is what some people call shadowwork. If you’re up for it you can go even deeper and do a shadow work meditation. These sometimes help you give comfort to your younger self. They can be healing for some. Otherwise, crying it out is also shadow work. Therapy is shadow work. You don’t need to do shadow work at all if you feel it’s not right for you. Whatever you choose, keep in mind what I said above so as not to end up following the wrong people.
Blessings and joy to you,
Tracy
