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If you follow me on Facebook, you know that I have quite a history of speaking my mind. Whatever I feel strongly about, I spoke about, no matter who I thought was reading or who I may offend. In particular, I speak about social issues and politics.

Those will always be issues that ruffle people’s feathers. That’s not a bad thing of course, which is why I would push for debate so much.

As time wore on, a combination of confident anonymity mixed with an outright defiance to respect others’ beliefs led me to realize how futile speaking of these subjects online was futile. Even worse, I realized how futile conventional face-to-face discussion is for the former reason.

I’m not letting myself off the hook now. I’m guilty of participating in the “Keyboard Warrior” mentality. As a matter of fact, it was my pompous attitude and the way I handled online ignorance and misinformation that made me realize I need to change.

Primary Culprits That Disturb Peace

It wasn’t just interacting with people online that threw my energy off though. I used to follow my local news outlets as well as a few main stream. With my personality, I can’t help but stop on an article I know would catch the public’s attention and spark debate. Initially I’d make the mistake of reading the comments before reading the article. There is where I saw some of the most foul human beings in my honest opinion. It’s where there are no holds barred and negativity runs rampant. I now know better, and I brace for whatever I’m going to see in the comments if I choose to go there.

Your Energy Can Be Transmitted Through Your Social Media Based On Your State of Mind

My peace of mind was almost non-existent. Any meditation I’d done that day was negated once I scrolled Facebook and allowed my brain to be bombarded by negative news and differing opinions. Actually, it had gotten so bad that people I once vibed with began unfollowing and unfriending me despite agreeing with my points of view.

I’d also noticed that in my business and financial life I wasn’t where I wanted to be either. It was then that I had to make some serious adjustments. Despite all the positive podcasts I listen to and Instagram accounts I follow, I was quite a Negative Ned. 

The Fix?

I consciously chose to let go of politics and social issues online and tackle them in a different manner. I had to unfollow all of the ones I received my information from:

• NPR 
• CNN
• Fox
• MSNBC 
• ABC15
• AZ Central
• KIRO7
• Q13 

And that’s just to name a few. I had to disassociate myself from it all.

Now when I say that I don’t mean I stopped following the news altogether. Instead I just understood I could control what was being blasted into my brain.

Control The Level Of Distractions You Experience

I don’t have to get distracted with random notifications on my phone, which if you’re one with ADD like myself, will absolutely destroy your focus. I just seek that information in the time I designate for it. This is usually two hours before bedtime and after I’ve meditated and had my tea in the morning. Instead, I use Facebook the way it was meant to be used and keep in touch with my friends. If I do post, it’s now business-related, humorous, or has a warming, positive message.

I’ve noticed a difference in both my happiness and productivity since the switch in focus. For one, I don’t wake up to a scrolling list of CNN and Fox News notifications on my phone the first thing in the morning anymore. Instead I choose to do my morning self care routine. The meditation keeps me from hanging on to any stray negative thoughts that may float through my mind.

Bottom line 

Learn to filter what enters your mind. I see too many people on my Facebook newsfeed with such good hearts and intentions, but letting the negative aspects of the world get the best of them. Instead, I challenge you to unfollow some of the streams and newsfeeds that put you in a negative state of mind, and replace them with pages that bring you joy, make you laugh, or otherwise just get your endorphins going. It doesn’t even have to be for long, just a week. I told myself I was only going to do it for a week and to this day I haven’t followed any of those pages again, and I started this the first week of January. You are in charge of your own happiness and state of mind. Your task is to successfully be The Gatekeeper to your thoughts. This is key to your inner peace.