Creating a New Age of Enlightenment
“The mind is everything. What you think, you become.” - Buddha
According to a number of sources consulted, the quote from Buddha was not quite that neat and packaged. It was probably more along the lines of…
“Whatever a monk keeps pursuing with his thinking and pondering, that becomes the inclination of his awareness.” - Buddha (unplugged)
I actually like this less self-help slogan-esque version better, because I think it more accurately describes the experience. Another way to put it would be, what we focus our minds on has a direct impact on our daily life experience. I believe that wholeheartedly, which is why I remain on a mission.
If you follow this newsletter as religiously as I know you do - don’t burst the bubble - you know it’s week three of Joel’s Great Enlightenment Challenge. A figurative opening of the blinds, letting the sunlight in, and fighting with all my might to break free the strong gravitational pull of, let’s call it, the abyss of regular news. Because seriously folks, there has to be more out there than the 3-4 stories that constitute the current 24-hour news cycle. Please dear god let it be so.
As I explained a couple of weeks ago, I intend to learn at least one new significant, enlightening, and dare I say, even enjoyable, fact each and every day. My intent is to boldly go beyond the non-stop droning loop of politics, polarization, Covid, and inflation to rediscover the vibrant and beautiful world I seem to vaguely remember. At least I think I do, although I’m not dismissing that it was all a dream. In all seriousness, it’s a necessary attempt to forcefully broaden my perspective and, hopefully, improve my overall mood. With that in mind, I share with you now my five favorite facts of the week, none of which were watched, read, heard, or otherwise digested via traditional network or local news outlets.
UFOs Are Real - From Vice News comes word that the U.S. Congress believes there are UFOs out there from planets other than Earth. No kidding! In a report sent to the Senate Select Committee, it was made clear that the Pentagon, newly, officially, charged with monitoring extra-terrestrials, needs to “distinguish between UFOs that are human in origin and those that are not,” and, also called the non-human variety a threat to our national security that was expanding exponentially. Wowser!!!
Speaking of Outer Space - Now this from Now This News. The late Nichelle Nichols, better known as Lt. Nyota Uhura of Star Trek fame, will have her ashes sent to deep space later this year on a rocket ship called Vulcan operated by a Texas-based company called Celestis, which offers memorial spaceflight services. Who knew? And, she won’t be alone. The ashes of two other Star Trek actors and series creator Gene Roddenberry will get the “star” treatment as well.
The Death Ray is here! - That old staple of sci-fi, the Ray-Gun, is now a reality. Both the U.S. Navy and Army have taken delivery of laser weapons that are right out of the pages of a Flash Gordon comic book. The Navy is outfitting a number of its ships with its version and the Army mounting them on armored vehicles. Check out this cool video report from American Military News.
That’s Impossible! Ever wonder what the inspiration was for the Impossible Burger, the plant-based beef substitute that can be found in many restaurants and grocery stores? Radical vegetarianism? Greed? The Clintons? Not so, according to the creator and company founder, Pat Brown. He says he did it to save the planet. He was a scientist by trade and a pretty prominent one at that, responsible for various breakthroughs in the study of DNA. It was while teaching at Stanford that he decided he needed to do something proactive to attack climate change and, after a little research, determined the only way to save the planet was to eliminate animals, especially cows, as a food source. He explains on the podcast, Unsung Science with David Pogue, that if cows were a country, their methane gas output would rank third highest behind only China and the U.S. P.S. - 95% of cattle’s gas output comes by way of burp…not, well, you know.
The Mysterious Deep Blue Sea - And, from the email newsletter The Wonder, (Thanks for the suggestion Terri) I learned that only about 20 percent (20.6% to be exact) of the ocean floor has been mapped. In other words, ships set sail everyday without knowing completely what lies beneath. By the way, the current total of ocean floor mappage is just a 1.6% increase over last year, but to put it in a better perspective, that small increase represents an area half the size of the United States.
Each and everyone of these stories engaged my imagination. They made me stop, focus, mull, and even smile. I felt mentally refreshed and strangely more optimistic. It was as though I had stepped off the hamster wheel and the grinding cogs of irritation in my brain subsided, until that is, I decided, just to be fair, to peruse a wide variety of traditional national and local news outlets to compare the experiences. The results? Predictable. No smile. No mulling. Just chest tightening, furrowing of brow, and never-ending dismay, as car wrecks, fires, and crime returned me to that darkish, drab, gray environment that is the news.
The Point is This…
To a person, we could all stand to expand our horizons. Focus less on the noise and more on the magic that is still marvelously present in much of the world around us. We need to shake off the Joe vs. The Volcano brain fog and experience a world that is much larger than the one we’re choosing to live in. The media can play a role by remembering that discovery is a powerful tool. It’s one that, without a doubt, can brighten, engage, and even work to unite divergent people around a common sense of intrigue. In other words, it can provide something to talk about around the Thanksgiving table (is there Impossible Turkey? Tofurkey?) that won’t provoke raised voices, hurled stuffing, flying drumsticks, and an all out red vs. blue food fight.
If We Must Mention the “P” Word…
Just to be clear, I am in no way suggesting that we pop a Prozac and just choose to ignore the bad parts of the Real World. Not at all. What I am suggesting is that we need balance, and if you’re anything like me, you know you haven’t had that for a very long time.
Our current political climate, of course, is one of the main reasons for this overload of foreboding we feel but the Ostrich Approach isn’t the answer. Ignore it and you might wake up one morning living in a place you don’t recognize…at all. A place you no longer want to be. But if you engage with the knowledge there is so much more out there than just the embarrassing mud fight that passes as political discourse these days, I guarantee the motivation to connect in a positive way will become stronger because you’ll be reminded that there are so many things worth the struggle. It will enhance your ability to consider new approaches, potential solutions, and dare I say, consider compromises that you might not have entertained before because you’ll realize what’s really at stake.
If you’re a reporter, news director, or any sort of current event content creator, this, is how you make a difference. Perspective & Context. My two favorite words in the entire vocabulary.
Parting Words…
And speaking of politics, and its coverage by the media, some very important parting words this week from Margaret Sullivan in her final column for the Washington Post. While Ms. Sullivan certainly has a political point-of-view in her writing, I would encourage you to set that aside and just listen to her admonition to journalists as they prepare to cover the upcoming - most likely historic, in one way or another - political season.
She talks about the importance of news organizations breaking free from…
“hidebound practices - the love of political conflict, the addiction of elections as a horse race - to address those concerns effectively.”
In other words, rising above the visceral muck to explore explainable truth. she goes on to say…
“One thing is certain. News outlets can’t continue to do speech, rally and debate coverage - the heart of campaign reporting - in the same old way. They will need to lean less on knee-jerk live coverage and more on reporting that relentlessly provides meaningful content.”
She encourages journalists to focus less on responding in “real-time” and more on thoughtful packaging of facts complete with context and perspective that promote truth.
“Journalists simply can’t allow themselves to be megaphones or stenographers. They have to be truth-tellers, using clear language, plenty of context and thoughtful framing to get that truth across. News organizations also have to continually explain to their readers, viewers and listeners why they are doing what they’re doing. If they aren’t airing a speech live, for example, they ought to say why.”
In other words, that dusty binder or digital file labeled “election planning” needs to be updated - maybe even tossed - in favor of a zero-based approach designed for a period in our history like no other. This is no time for business as usual. And, for the audience, be aware of those media outlets that substitute button pushing for factual, truthful reporting. Trust me when I say, they do NOT have your best interest at heart. They’re no better than the companies that fueled the tragic Opioid Crisis we now find ourselves in. They know their approach isn’t good for you or the country, that it may ultimately destroy both, but it sure as hell makes for a great bottom line along the way. Ka-Ching!
Finally…
Take a minute today and look around. Think about the possibility of aliens in our midst, Flash Gordon laser beams, and the mysteries of the Impossible Burger and the Deep Blue Sea along with anything else that reminds you that the world is about so much more than divisiveness, polarization, and despair. You’ll feel better - trust me. And, if you’re a journalist, you’ll be doing your readers, viewers and listeners a tremendous public service if you share the experience.
I invite you, maybe even implore you, to start your own Enlightment Challenge. You don’t have to call it Joel’s Great Enlightenment Challenge ‘cause that might be weird, but I’m sure you can figure something out. And, I know this is a big ask, but share your discoveries. We’ll all be better for it.