Recently, I’ve been studying the latest breakthroughs in psychological experiments and behavioral science. My university training is in psychology and sociology, and I find that studying people and how they think is a key to success in every area of life.
Scientists have discovered that we all have several million images around us every day. We only convert approximately two thousand of these images into conscious thoughts or ideas. The process of how we convert subconscious information into conscious thoughts may well be the most important element of success and defining who we really are.
Unfortunately, too many of us allow people around us, advertisers, or the news media to control our flow of images that are converted into thoughts. If you want to know what happened in the world on any given day, you might consult your local newspaper or turn on a news broadcast on the television or radio. Ironically, items become news because they are judged by someone to not be commonplace.
Recently, there has been a lot of media coverage surrounding police officers and how they perform their duties. If the only images about police officers that you allow into your consciousness are the images from the news media, you would believe that all police are corrupt and abusive. While there are certainly abuses and we need to hold our public servants to the highest possible standard, it is important to note while the headlines are screaming about one incident that seers into your consciousness, the reality is many thousands of policemen and women go to work every day and do their jobs politely and professionally, keeping us all safe.
The media images would indicate that police violence is rampant and commonplace. While one instance of abuse is too many, the subconscious images that rarely reach our consciousness indicate that the vast majority of police officers serve their entire career without discharging or even drawing their weapon.
Images from the news media, by definition, are not commonplace. Stories are chosen to become news items because they are unusual and noteworthy. Police who protect and serve, teachers who sacrifice and mold the next generation, clergy who exemplify the highest ideals, and all manner of people living together and doing their best is normal and commonplace but not newsworthy. News stories are real, but they do not portray reality.
It’s great to keep up with the news of the day as long as you temper it with powerful and positive thoughts that can put today into perspective and make tomorrow better.
As you go through your day today, be aware of the news but live in reality.
Today’s the day!
Jim Stovall
About the author: Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK 74145-9082; by email at Jim@JimStovall.com; on Twitter at www.twitter.com/stovallauthor; or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jimstovallauthor.