Be Not Consumed

AttentionNewsCollective WellnessPsychology
Written By elle pierre

Pair this reading with a dreamy soundscape to quiet the chaos.

It’s been Just shy of two weeks since the Tyrannical Tangerine and his lackeys have taken the house of white. and Whew, it's felt like A LOT, amirite? Waves of breaking news, urgent updates, and headlines that demand our immediate attention. many wild changes have taken place and it all seems to be happening at warp speed—that is intentional. When we take in information at this rate, we’re no longer “staying informed” we’re allowing ourselves to be programmed. 

I’m going to geek out about emdr real quick. EMDR (eye movement desensitization reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy typically used to treat ptsd. It involves a therapist asking their client to recall and hold the memory of a traumatic event while focusing on bilateral stimulation. This can look like self-led hand tapping or closely watching as the therapist swings a pendulum from left to right. The lateral eye movement helps one process and integrate the traumatic event, and reduce the emotional distress caused by it.

Now let’s touch on the overton window. I first learned of this concept through Imani barbarin (a woman of many great insights). The Overton Window is the spectrum of ideas that society considers acceptable. the Tyrannical tangerine and his propaganda machine have been relentlessly exposing us to unthinkable “new” policies, ideologies, and systems. The more we’re exposed to extreme, absurd, or horrifying concepts, the less shocking they become. And as we accept these things, the collective consciousness shifts.

This is also intentional.

Creating urgency is a manipulation tactic. The reality is that There are very few things in life that require immediate action or decision-making. But the rate at which we receive information is designed to stir panic. When our attention gets locked into these headlines, fear and concern naturally arise. And as we absorb the chaos, our rapid eye movements mimic the same mechanics of EMDR—except instead of integrating trauma for recovery, we’re teaching our bodies to accept chaos as the norm.

The Law of Attention says that whatever we focus on expands, or more commonly “where attention goes, energy flows.” You might be thinking “Elle, What are you talking about? what do these things have to do with each other?”

in short: 🗣️ ISSA TRAP!!!

The tangerine and his regime are casting spells. our attention is worth billions (if not trillions) of dollars and it’s currently being hijacked by the propaganda machine…. pulling us into a vortex of fear, outrage, and hopelessness. And as long as we stay locked in, we keep feeding it. If enough of us believe there’s no way out, the panic deepens, and We make that thought real. This is how manifestation works.

essentially what I’m saying is that it is high time to Protect our minds, our spirits, and our energy. by reclaiming attention (our most valuable resource), we get to choose where we wish to place our focus, and to utilize it to manifest what serves us collectively. Here’s how:

  1. Set up a News Schedule (and ritualize it). Instead of allowing the algorithm to pull you here, there and everywhere, choose when to get up to speed with the latest news. Whether it’s designating one hour in each day, or one day per week is completely up to you. What’s most important is that you create (and honor) a boundary between your awareness and the incessant stream of fear-based updates. Ritualize your news moment; brew a cup of tea or coffee, light up a j, burn incense, play 528 hz frequencies and offer yourself a grounding affirmation. prepare yourself to receive and process new information from a place of clarity.

  2. Choose your sources with intention. A lot of mainstream news outlets push narratives intended to elicit emotion. We need sources that inspire, offer depth, solutions, and nuance rather than panic and sensation. Subscribe to newsletters, podcasts or have chats with members in your community who share similar values. Follow journalists and writers who prioritize integrity over hype (the homies Lachelle and def sound write thoughtful and entertaining newsletters).

  3. take pauses and tune into your body. As we encounter messaging riddled with urgency, taking a beat to check in with our bodies will be necessary to prevent downward spirals. We get to ask ourselves what is the intention of this messaging? how does it empower me? whatever is outside of our capacity to consume in the moment can always be revisited. If the messaging is draining, rest.

  4. Engage with curious dreamers who have radical imagination. Seriously, avoid the temptation of doomscrolling—it’s a surefire way to kill hope dead. Instead, talk with friends, family, and community members (on and offline)… specifically, those who think critically, center collective wisdom, and choose radical curiosity and imagination. processing the latest events with your circle can offer support and create space for action (and laughter, too).

  5. (re)affirm your intentions daily. The moment we open news and/or social media apps, we’re inundated with new information and things to care about. It’s easy to get swept up in all that and lose sight of our own desires and priorities. If you aren’t already doing so, here’s an invitation to start your mornings off with intention. Set a goal for the day and speak life to it. Set alarms that encourage and reinvigorate you to move towards the goal. Affirming our goals is an empowering way to get through the day. When we move with purpose, distractions lose power.

  6. bonus tip: Stop saying that man’s name. This comes from My good friend, Mary. like any other egomaniac, the tyrannical tangerine thrives on attention… it doesn’t matter if it’s good or bad. give him nothing.

It’s easy to feel like the world is spinning out of control, but we are not powerless. we get to shift the balance. we are here to dream, to imagine, and to create a world beyond chaos. center relationship, center community, Breathe deeply and protect your peace.

Remember: where attention goes, energy flows—choose wisely.

xx

Sources:

elle pierre
Previous

New Moon in Pisces collective reading
Next

The World Demonique.