It takes very little observation of what’s going on to see that we are being distracted from reality. The main object is that we are being distracted from ourselves. Every time you give time to someone else’s issues, you wander further from what you know as truth.
All the exaggerated headlines and drama disconnect you from what is important: the never-ending growth in your inner world. The real intrusion and attempt to prevent exposure are not just happening around the corner; they are happening all over the world. It is the way we are being taught to comply and forget who we truly are.
What is wanted now from our corrupt assemblage of interconnected front-runners are not educated, free-thinking minds. They want obedient followers. People are adhering with a devoted allegiance to this because they are fearful of the truth after finding relief with the lies that they have become comfortable with. They have found comfort and convenience in the ease of belief and have lost the courage to look for answers with bold questions that don’t want to be heard. This is the way cowardice has been disguised with loyalty, turning to corruption that is being shown the way by a corrupt leader.
Being distracted is caused by a complex interplay of internal and external factors, with many modern distractions intentionally engineered to capture our attention. Now in the 24/7 digital age, news consumption is linked to increased anxiety and a distorted view of reality. In part, this is because the news environment is designed to maximize engagement.
The human brain is naturally wired to respond to threats, a trait that news outlets capitalize on. By consistently focusing on distressing, dramatic and alarming headlines, the human body is triggered to a fight-or-flight response. This makes it hard to look away and will lead to endless “doomscrolling.”
Doomscrolling is the compulsive act of endlessly consuming negative or distressing news and information online, particularly on social media. Fueled by the false desire to stay informed, this habit creates a self-perpetuating cycle of worry and fear. This then causes the users to lose track of time and neglect other aspects of their well-being.
The volume of information, combined with frequent alerts and hyperlinks, trains the brain to crave constant stimulation. This continuous partial attention can impair your working memory and make it harder for you to concentrate on tasks that don't provide the same emotional rush. In short, you are easily bored.
A fundamental distinction is drawn between educated, free-thinking minds and obedient followers based on how they process information, challenge authority, and contribute to society. A balance between independent thought and the ability to follow directions is necessary for a functioning society. The critical difference lies in whether one's actions are driven by genuine understanding and evaluation, or by unquestioning compliance.
Freethinking minds are characterized by curiosity, critical analysis, and the willingness to question assumptions. This intellectual approach fosters innovation and healthy social growth. Rather than accepting information at face value, freethinkers analyze facts, evaluate arguments and seek evidence. This process helps them discern the truth from falsehood.
Freethinkers make choices based on their own analysis, not simply because an authority figure has told them to. By thinking outside the box and questioning the status quo, freethinking minds drive creativity and progress. Citizens who value independent thought are more than likely to resist the abuses of power and defend personal freedoms, making them crucial for a healthy democracy.
Obedient followers, particularly those who follow blindly, prioritize conformity and submission to authority. This approach can lead to stability in certain situations but can also have disastrous consequences. Obedience is important for creating order, safety and smooth functioning within groups and societies by promoting adherence to the rules and the instructions of authority figures.
Because of the distractions, mob mentality and lack of manners, it has become far too common to talk in a negative way today. It matters not if you’re a freethinker of an obedient follower. Bad mouthing someone has become commonly accepted.
People bad-mouth others to bond with the mob and to gain social power and control by making others feel fear and feel a perceived threat to their own standing. They become secure by projecting their own insecurities. They may also do it to avoid direct conflict or to distract from their own personal problems, as the brain is easily drawn to negative stories.
The following phrase was part of how I grew up while being raised in a small rural community. I had very kind and compassionate parents, even though they leaned towards the semi-strict side. “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”
The phrase is most famously associated and attributed to Thumper’s father, Papa Thumper, from the 1942 Disney film, Bambi. The exact origin has been debated. There are suggestions that Alice Roosevelt, daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt, used a similar phrase.
For myself, do not attribute the phrase to Papa Thumper. I attribute the phrase to my own father, Papa Abernathy! Though I falter at times, I continually try to make these childhood words part of my foundation for living.
The same thing should be implemented with thought. If you don’t have anything good to fill your thoughts, clear your mind and stop thinking. Change the content of your thoughts. If positive thoughts are scarce, then calm your mind by thinking of nothing at all. Place yourself in the moment of right now. Find your breath with the intention of calmness. With consistency, finding peace will become easier to replace a bad thought that is nothing but negative with good thoughts that are nothing but positive.
Because of all these distractions in so many different venues and the influence of popularity, far too many people spend their time lost. They are only polishing the surface instead of exploring the depths of who they are and who they could be.
A fabrication, though a reality of what is wanted me to roll back time to when I was thirteen or fourteen. They wanted me to change my choices so that perhaps I would see in their eyes what they saw to be out of place and fraudulent. This way, I could be part of the new world. I paused on my unclassified and uncrowded path and looked over to where there were. I could see what there was to be seen. What I saw in this real world seemed to me to be the most deceptive, dishonest, and fraudulent world there is.
You can find more of the unfiltered insight and the Art of Dan Abernathy at www.contributechaos.com.
