We often think of “diet” as strictly related to our food intake. However, it might be helpful to broaden our definition of diet to include information we “digest” from movies, newspapers, television, computer websites, blogs & tweets, as well as social situations that we expose ourselves to on a regular basis.
We have seen how potentially powerful, seductive and often unhelpful our thinking can be at times. In our meditation practice, we are often swept away by our thinking only to find ourselves in an emotional place that we had no intention of visiting.
It might be helpful to ask yourself the following questions:
- What kinds of information do I expose myself to on a regular basis?
- How does it affect me physically or emotionally?
- Is it health promoting?
- Does it make me feel how I want to feel?
- Does it encourage a feeling of peace and safety in me, or does it feed feelings of anxiety, depression or fear?
- Is this how I want to spend these moments in my life?
- What other choices do I have in this moment?
- Is my psychological diet balanced, or is it focused on information that tends to have more negative effects on my emotional state of mind and overall sense of well-being?