Every day we watch the news on TV or read a newspaper. Sometimes we leave the radio on to have a bit of company and to know what is happening in the world. But the tendency of these shows is to tell us all the bad news and none of the good news. They can occasionally pack good news for good measure, but the most important thing for the media is to attract viewers, readers, listeners, and unfortunately, bad news attracts an audience more than good news.
So it’s easy to start feeling down every time we hear that the economy’s financial woes haven’t gone away, unemployment is rising, spending cuts are on the way, and war is brewing in some faraway land. Or maybe there’s been a natural disaster somewhere and people are in trouble, or a murder or a plane crash. Guaranteed at any time of the day, something horrible is going to happen somewhere, and the efficiency of our news services means we’ll know about it almost instantly. But if there’s nothing we can do to help, the important thing is not to let it get to us.
Bad news can ruin your day. If you hadn’t turned on the TV at that moment you wouldn’t have found out. But the fact is that the world has always been the same and nothing has changed. There will always be evil, there will always be accidents, and there will always be politicians wondering what to do with a sick economy. There’s no point in worrying about any of that. By all means, stay informed, but also try to stay out of it. Focus on your immediate surroundings and if you feel safe there you don’t have to worry.
It’s important, especially when you get to a certain age, to keep the peace. By focusing on all the good things going on around you and ignoring the bad, you’ll feel much better about yourself and be more optimistic about the future. There is no point in worrying about things that cannot be changed. On these occasions, when you feel depressed by circumstances you have read about or seen on the news, read the Bible or say a prayer. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” As long as we remain faithful to the Lord, nothing can harm us, nothing can harm our good mood.