The Media War – it’s real, it’s coming at you every minute of every day, and it’s winning. Don’t believe me? Consider these questions: Do you listen to the radio – in your car, at work, at home, in the yard, etc? Do you own a TV (perhaps multiples)? How many hours a day is it ON (Not how many hours do you watch it, but how many is just ON)?! Reports state that the average US citizen listens to 600 to 3000 commercial messages PER DAY! (See http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=56750) ON average that’s 6.4 HOURS per day spent hearing about what someone else is telling you to do, buy, finance, say, vote for, etc. !! I say hearing because even if we are not paying attention, our subconscious mind is still listening - THAT is disturbing America!! Do you read? Do you read every day? What are you reading? Are you reading media that contains advertisements?! Stop, Think! Now – in the time it took to read this - did you just hear one? I’ll bet if you live in the average US household, you did!
I believe that media can be detrimental and in some instances is very dangerous. What we let in, what we keep out influences our very thoughts; our thoughts lead to our actions, our actions then lead to our habits, and those are what ultimately determine our successes and/or failures in life. The daily barrage of media to which we are exposed effects our perception of self and others, our abilities, our responsibilities, our status.
Everything you do and feel is certainly influenced, and in some instances, dominated by your media habits.
Some would argue that it is government that has the biggest control of our lives, but I contend that the corporations have far more control. Get this, buy that, go here, do this, eat this, etc., etc., etc.! Do you think for even one moment that keeping up with the Jones’ is the way to live your life? The materialistic society we live in today is edging out what is really important – God, personal accountability and fiscal responsibility.
Debt and what I call “following the herd” are serious issues we face everyday with our children, families, and in the workplace. Our society is becoming so numb and dumbed-down it is disheartening to hear what people have to say about anything, let alone for people to actually listen to each other and have a meaningful conversation. It seems to me that to stand for something these days is to subject oneself to ridicule and harsh opposition, especially when it comes to faith or chasing a dream.
Over the past two years I have decidedly changed my outlook and my perception of what I thought was true and correct through the complete reversal of my media habits. I shut off the TV almost completely for almost 8 months! I dare you to try that one – No sitcoms, no Lifetime, no Spike, limited local print news, ie: no mainstream media. The silence is deafening at first, but becomes more & more desirable as time passes. You begin to take notice of things: children, people, God’s creation, and most importantly – self. Self-discovery can be a very tough thing and yet it can be inspiring as well!
I hope that you try this experiment & see what you can discover for yourself. Turn down the noise & listen to your life – what do you hear? Talk to your children, ask questions and listen to each other. Read a great book together as a family or with your spouse & talk about what you read. I assure you, it is far more beneficial than the next episode of The Office.
Live Well, Be Well!
Stephen
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A Life of Purpose
My friend said to me the other day, “Don’t you get frustrated and tired of talking with people about what we [our Team community] can do and they just don’t see it?” I replied that actually I don’t. Who doesn’t want to stay healthy? Who doesn’t want or need to make more money? Who does not see the trouble the “instant gratification” mentality is causing in the very fabric of our society; and threatens our very freedom?
What we do and what we represent at the TEAM is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced outside of my faith relationship. I now know that proper exercise and a healthy diet including the Mona-Vie product line is the best thing you can do for the health of your body and mind. In addition, stress is a huge factor in health today. Does it not stand to reason that having great health, financial stability, and the ability to share the opportunity with others would be a great way to relieve stress? I have found that just knowing I can and will make a substantial contribution to the well-being of my community through the sharing of the TEAM / Mona-vie system and the positive influence that the TEAM has on the people who have joined us in our goal to be a community of a million people is very liberating.
John Maxwell and a number of other professionals all profess that having the proper attitude in life (a positive one) can make a huge impact on your own well being and also impacts those around you. Personally, beside the gratification of my faith and of teaching my children, I can’t think of a better thing in my life than associating and learning with people who have a similar view. Some people will invariably tell me that a positive attitude isn’t going to get me anything. I disagree.
A positive attitude, plus focus and hard work, lead to better results in life, in relationships, in the community, wherever! How can the “journey” of life be fun and fulfilling if one is/has a negative attitude or if one is “positive” that they will never succeed at anything great in their life? It is said that all men have a life, but not all men live – which one would you prefer?
I assure you, we all have greatness inside us, and I believe that there is a large unconnected community of people out there that believe this. Perhaps they (you) just haven’t found the right vehicle, or the right community, or simply just haven’t learned that they have the capacity because nobody has ever provided the right information and encouragement?
I read about it time & again in learning the stories of successful people that are written every-day. It all starts with a dream of something better, something real or imagined. Then someone like me introduces you to the concept that things don’t have to be “the way they’ve always been”; that there are other ways, better ways to get what you really want by applying new ways of learning and perspective, and then something magic happens. People light up! Their lives improve, their relationships improve, they start accumulating the “wealth” they have always wanted. It’s truly a thing of beauty, I've literally seen it happen to many!
So I ask you; Are you leading the type of life that you dreamed of when you were young? If yes – I applaud you for your life of purpose! If the answer is no, perhaps we should talk! You may yet just find a way to dream again and create that which you were made for. Visit my site at www.the-team.biz/mv974607 or email me at stephen.hartka@the-team.biz
Live Well – Be Well
Stephen
What we do and what we represent at the TEAM is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced outside of my faith relationship. I now know that proper exercise and a healthy diet including the Mona-Vie product line is the best thing you can do for the health of your body and mind. In addition, stress is a huge factor in health today. Does it not stand to reason that having great health, financial stability, and the ability to share the opportunity with others would be a great way to relieve stress? I have found that just knowing I can and will make a substantial contribution to the well-being of my community through the sharing of the TEAM / Mona-vie system and the positive influence that the TEAM has on the people who have joined us in our goal to be a community of a million people is very liberating.
John Maxwell and a number of other professionals all profess that having the proper attitude in life (a positive one) can make a huge impact on your own well being and also impacts those around you. Personally, beside the gratification of my faith and of teaching my children, I can’t think of a better thing in my life than associating and learning with people who have a similar view. Some people will invariably tell me that a positive attitude isn’t going to get me anything. I disagree.
A positive attitude, plus focus and hard work, lead to better results in life, in relationships, in the community, wherever! How can the “journey” of life be fun and fulfilling if one is/has a negative attitude or if one is “positive” that they will never succeed at anything great in their life? It is said that all men have a life, but not all men live – which one would you prefer?
I assure you, we all have greatness inside us, and I believe that there is a large unconnected community of people out there that believe this. Perhaps they (you) just haven’t found the right vehicle, or the right community, or simply just haven’t learned that they have the capacity because nobody has ever provided the right information and encouragement?
I read about it time & again in learning the stories of successful people that are written every-day. It all starts with a dream of something better, something real or imagined. Then someone like me introduces you to the concept that things don’t have to be “the way they’ve always been”; that there are other ways, better ways to get what you really want by applying new ways of learning and perspective, and then something magic happens. People light up! Their lives improve, their relationships improve, they start accumulating the “wealth” they have always wanted. It’s truly a thing of beauty, I've literally seen it happen to many!
So I ask you; Are you leading the type of life that you dreamed of when you were young? If yes – I applaud you for your life of purpose! If the answer is no, perhaps we should talk! You may yet just find a way to dream again and create that which you were made for. Visit my site at www.the-team.biz/mv974607 or email me at stephen.hartka@the-team.biz
Live Well – Be Well
Stephen
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