If You Change The Content You See, Your Life Will Change
If you change the content you see, your life will improve. You may not realize it, but you are ‘bathed’ in content every day. And the content you see affects you in many ways. If you expose yourself to a lot of negative content, you will experience anxiety and self-doubt frequently.
In fact, absorb enough negative content and you will start having epic levels of self doubt. But, if you bathe yourself in positive content, your life will improve.
For the purpose of this discussion, anything that is not positive, is negative.
The Effect of Negative Content
When you expose yourself to negative messages often, you train your brain to think negatively about everything. You will begin to fret about things that will probably never happen. This leads to worries about your health, your relationships, your finances, etc.
Excessive worrying can even lead to feelings of high anxiety and make you feel physically ill, according to WebMD. Once this has been going on awhile, you are rewarded with a testy attitude and constant negative thoughts.
Excessive worrying can lead to feelings of high anxiety and make you feel physically ill.This is important to tackle because chronic negativity can really harm you. (OK, the article says it can kill you, but I wanted to be a little more positive.)
If you’ve been around here for a while you know I don’t point out problems and then leave you hanging without a solution. You can combat the effects of all this negative content by exposing yourself to positive content throughout your day.
Change the Content You See
When you focus on more positive content, the effects are almost immediate.
- You’ll experience less anxiety and you’ll find it easier to face setbacks and other difficult life events.
- You’ll stop visualizing the worst and begin imagining more positive outcomes.
- You’ll get relief from worrying about your health, career, finances, or your relationships.
Sound good?
It is good, because what you think about, you bring about. I don’t remember where I heard that the first time, but I’ve heard it a lot of times. And I now know it’s true.
Have you ever worried about something, like getting a flat tire, and then you got a flat tire? Congrats, you have experienced the power of your thoughts.
Keeping your thoughts positive and life-affirming attracts positive things into your life.
Podcasts are Positive Content
One way you can change the content you see to something more positive in your life is to listen to uplifting and encouraging podcasts. Yes, this is a little self-serving since the Your Confident Self podcast is mine, but facts are facts.
Podcasts have been around for years, but these audio shows distributed online are more popular than ever. You can think of them like radio stations that you control. You pick the shows that you want, subscribe to them, and then new episodes will be released onto your podcast application on a regular basis. As of April 2019, there had been more than 29 million podcast episodes published.
Benefits of Listening to Podcasts
Depending on which shows you choose, you can keep up with your favorite tv shows, practice new skills, and listen to encouraging messages whenever you like.
For example, if you want to break the habit of excessing worrying, then a podcast on the topic of mindfulness can be a great source of encouragement. You’ll get regular tips and advice on how to tune into your body and your emotions instead of worrying.
When you’re listening to positive podcasts that feature someone who has overcome a personal struggle, it allows you to see new solutions to your problems. The problem doesn’t have to be exactly the same as something you’ve experienced, but the problem-solving skills can certainly transfer.
On the other hand, positive content wants to be your best friend. It reminds you of the good things in your life and leaves you feeling like the world isn’t such a horrible place. It encourages and builds you up.
The result is that when you finish listening to positive content you feel energized and powerful. And you can hold onto that feeling all day. The echoes of the podcast in your head will keep visiting you throughout the day just like echoes of negative content. See why it’s important to seek out positive thoughts?
How to Turn Inspiring Podcasts Into Action
Listening to podcasts regularly is a great way to change your negative thoughts to more positive ones. But if all you do is listen and you don’t do anything with the content, you’re cheating yourself out of the benefits you can expect if you change the content you see.
You have to act on what you learn if you want to get the most out of the experience. No, I’m not talking about lots of homework, you can start very simply.
Don’t Be Afraid to Pause
Sometimes, a host or guest on a podcast will make a statement that resonates with you. When that happens, don’t try to keep listening. Pause the episode and think about what was shared. Ask yourself, “Why is this resonating with me? What does this statement make me want to do?”
Check Out the Show Notes
When you’re done with a podcast episode, don’t let it just float from your mind. Take a few minutes to look up the show notes. Seeing the text can help you remember what you’ve just listened to. In addition, there are often links to related resources in the show notes that may help you.
Take Notes
Another way to make sure you’re fully consuming the content of a podcast is to take notes. The best way to do this is to write the notes by hand because most people find it easier to remember what they’ve written. That’s right, old school, like with a pen and paper.
But if you’re listening to the podcast in the car or at the gym, you can use a smart phone to take your notes. Two good apps for this are Voxer and the voice recorder app on your phone. When you hear something you want to remember, pop open your recorder and leave yourself an audio note.
Now Do Something
When you’re listening to a podcast, consider how you can implement what you’re hearing. For example, the host of a relationship podcast says that the most important ingredient for a successful marriage is regular communication.
So, make a note to stop and check in with your spouse today. Go beyond the usual “how was work” to ask a thought-provoking question or thank your partner for something they’ve done for you.
Keep in mind that depending on the episode and what you’re doing, you may have a lot of notes or you may have just a few. Don’t worry if that’s the case. You’re just looking to capture the best gems from a show. You can always go back and listen again!
How to Make Time For Your Favorite Podcasts
If you’re like most people, you probably feel a bit overwhelmed by your to-do list each day. You have so many responsibilities, projects, and tasks on your plate. You have a lot people you don’t want to disappoint like your boss, your significant other, or your friends, so you hesitate to add to your list.
So, how are you going to find time to listen to positive podcasts that will change the content you see and keep negative thoughts away? You can fit podcasts into your days by doing these things…
Listen in the Morning
Most people have morning routines that keep their hands busy but not necessarily their minds. For example, your morning may consist of a beauty routine that involves makeup, hair care, and other activities. Instead of just letting this time slip by, fill your mind with a podcast episode.
Get Uplifted at the Gym
Try swapping out your music at the gym for a podcast. But pick one that you find matches your workout speed. If you prefer a slower, longer workout then a podcast that’s soothing might be a good match. If you prefer intense workouts, choose a show that you find inspiring and that leaves you feeling motivated.
Tune In While You De-Stress
Do you have a hobby that helps you relax? Maybe you love to knit or you spend as much time as you can with your adult coloring books. It’s easier to absorb a message when your hands are busy, so these are the perfect times to tune in.
Catch an Episode during Chores
Listen to a podcast while you do your usual chores. It’s a simple way to make boring chores go quicker and make the time pull double-duty. You can listen while you’re doing dishes, mowing the lawn, or folding laundry. I pick a chore I detest and distract myself with some fun listening.
Commute and Learn
Another way to enjoy your favorite podcasts is to listen while you’re commuting. I call my car Honda University because I never listen to the radio, but I listen to podcasts in my car to learn new things. All. The. Time. It doesn’t matter if you drive to work or take the bus, use your travel time to fill your mind with positive messages.
Remember, listening to a podcast isn’t about adding another to-do to your list. It’s about making sure that you are getting in enough positive content to keep yourself focused on the good things in life. Keep a few episodes stored on your smart phone so you can listen anytime and anywhere.
If you change the content you see it will be one of the best things you do for yourself. You can change your life by turning away from negative content. You’ll quickly find that positive content will bring more joy into your everyday life.
My Top 4 Encouraging Podcasts
Armchair Expert with Dak Shepard
Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
Did I miss a good show? Let me know in the comments below!
