Media is all around us, everyday we all us some type of media. You reading this blog post, is a form of media. Think about the last ten minutes of your life, How much media do you think you used? Did you listening to music, get on Facebook, check your phone, etc. There have been times in my life when I felt overwhelmed with all the media I was using. I started to noticed that I could not go a day without checking Facebook or leaving the house without my cell phone. I was so focused on my phone that I was not focusing on the people or things around me. I felt lost and unconnected with my friends if I did not have service for a day. I was allowing media to control my life instead of using media to improve and benefit my life. Have you ever had such an experience? At this point, I would strive to have a media fast. I would avoid Facebook, leave my phone behind, strive to not watch movies and so forth. Sometimes I would go to the extremes to cleanse media from my life. Going to the extreme is never a good things. Media is a wonderful tool to help improve our lives and relationships. I have come to understand that instead of cleansing media from my life. I need to find the balance of not allowing media to become my master. Elder Russell M. Ballard gave a wonderful talk which helped expand this principle. In this talk he said,
“They need to be our servants, not our masters. For example, if later tonight you share inspiring thoughts from this devotional on social media, your smartphone is a servant. If you randomly surf the Internet, your smartphone is a master.”
Media is a wonderful tool that can be good to share and uplift others around us. To end this post, here is a youtube video that brings me great joy and reminds me to be grateful and that I can do anything good! Find the balance in Media use and remember that you can do anything good!
That's one of my favorite videos! Thanks for sharing Elder Ballard's words of wisdom. I think that sometimes it is great to have a break from media. For example, I've decided not to use Facebook this semester and I'm actually really loving it, but I feel that eventually I will get back on Facebook and try to be the master of it instead of being it's servant.
Thanks for the good reminder! I think it can be hard at times to not have media be our master but when we are more aware of this, I think we are happier in our lives and more productive.
I also find myself being distracted by media to the point that it becomes my master and I the servant. I found it interesting that when I tried to do the media fast, it was literally impossible for me. I managed to get rid of "extra stuff" but I still found myself unable from what I deemed "necessary" media. I hope I can include more media that shares positive messages.
I know everyone else has complemented the quote from Elder Ballard already. That is such a simple and clear rule to follow that makes it so easy to use media the right way. Thanks for finding and sharing that gem of knowledge.
That's one of my favorite videos! Thanks for sharing Elder Ballard's words of wisdom. I think that sometimes it is great to have a break from media. For example, I've decided not to use Facebook this semester and I'm actually really loving it, but I feel that eventually I will get back on Facebook and try to be the master of it instead of being it's servant.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the good reminder! I think it can be hard at times to not have media be our master but when we are more aware of this, I think we are happier in our lives and more productive.
ReplyDeleteI also find myself being distracted by media to the point that it becomes my master and I the servant. I found it interesting that when I tried to do the media fast, it was literally impossible for me. I managed to get rid of "extra stuff" but I still found myself unable from what I deemed "necessary" media. I hope I can include more media that shares positive messages.
ReplyDeleteI know everyone else has complemented the quote from Elder Ballard already. That is such a simple and clear rule to follow that makes it so easy to use media the right way. Thanks for finding and sharing that gem of knowledge.
ReplyDelete