Did you know that you can choose what media fills your attention? And affects your emotional state?
Arthur Schopenhauer wrote philosophy mainly in the early 19th Century. I’ve found much of his writing a chore to parse. This thought gets right to the point, “The art of not reading is a very important one. It consists in not taking an interest in whatever may be engaging the attention of the general public at any particular time. When some political or ecclesiastical pamphlet, or novel, or poem is making a great commotion, you should remember that he who writes for fools always finds a large public. A precondition for reading good books is not reading bad ones: for life is short.”
Compare this observation of the 1820s to our plight today where thousands of very smart engineers and managers work extraordinary hours to capture our attention with emotion-laden messages. We choose an application on the internet. Something served to us by the anonymous “algorithm” provokes an emotional response. We read more becoming increasingly incensed as we read.
Finally breaking away, we struggle to concentrate on family, work, study, even relaxation.
Remember our first premise?
It was your choice.
The old Crusader told Indiana Jones (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) regarding the villain, “He chose poorly” as he died a hideous death. Then, “Choose wisely.”
Faith Venture 
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