How to Stop the Media from Controlling Your Mind

BY SOFO ARCHON

Our beliefs are powerful beyond imagination: They influence our perception of reality, which in turn influences the way we live.

Therefore, those who control our beliefs control our lives.

What are our beliefs comprised of? Well, fundamentally of a bunch of information that we have accepted as truth — even when we don’t have strong evidence to support it.

Much of the information concerning what’s going on in the world is presented to us by the mainstream media. Day in, day out, television channels, newspapers, news websites, blogs and social media pages pump a flood of information into our minds, and we’re so used to it that we rarely question it. This information then leads us to perceive the world in a certain way, and act in it accordingly.

The problem is, most people don’t realize that mainstream media outlets tend not to show us the entire truth, but only a tiny aspect of it, and in a very biased way. Why’s that? Mainly because they have vested political and financial interests, although, of course, they don’t dare to publicly admit it.

Have you ever wondered why, when you visit several major news websites, you often come across information about the exact same events presented in different, and in many cases even antithetical ways?

There’s a simple explanation for that:

The mainstream media shows only what it wants to show you. Truth isn’t the object, manipulation is. The manipulation of your very mind.

Of course, I’m not saying that all mainstream media always intends to manipulate you. Sometimes journalists and others who work for the mainstream media deeply and truly believe in the ideas behind the content they’re putting out to the world. In fact, usually they themselves have been brainwashed into certain ideologies after years upon years of propaganda and social conditioning. Hence, it’s not that they are evil or bad, contrary to what many people think. Rather, they are also victims of the cultural environment they were raised in.

Regardless, the point I want to make is simple: The mainstream media isn’t to be trusted on belief alone. In fact, no media is to be trusted. Period. Even what I’m writing here might be utter bullshit, based on my own hidden agendas. So, I don’t want you to trust me. I really don’t. I want you to seek the truth for yourself.

So, what can you do to stop the media from manipulating your mind?

Here’s my simple yet time-tested advice:

Firstly, when it comes to any serious issue under discussion, be sure to expose yourself to as much information as you can, from as many — even conflicting — sources as possible, in order to develop a spherical view of the situation.

And, secondly, always remember: Just because Jesus, the Pope, Trump, Obama, Putin, Deepak Chopra or your favorite YouTube persona said something, that doesn’t mean it’s true. So, don’t take anything on faith. Rather, question everyone and everything, do your research, and come to your own conclusions based on critical thinking.

The media only has the power we allow it to have. Therefore, it’s in our hands to stop it from controlling our minds, and hence our lives.