Now the public are fed up with hearing constant coverage of doom and gloom about the economy - the swine flu pandemic brings another old favourite news theme to the fore - death and destruction. I was once a reporter and so I am perhaps more aware than most that - fear sells. It is fear that is often the "hook" which draws us in to the wall-to-wall news we are bombarded with. Whether we watch it, listen to it or read it - the conscious or subconscious bottom line is often fear - what about me? What if it happens to me or my family? Am I at risk?
How can we engage our natural intelligence especially at times like this to separate the hype from reality - to bring some perspective to the scale of this problem?
Nowadays news organisations have to find enough material to fill every second of every day and night with a fresh, exciting, eye-catching headline - it is increasingly challenging for them to keep the ratings up and hold on to your attention. Summer too is traditionally a time when there isn't much news about - we are all too busy having a lovely time on holiday or being with our loved ones. Now with the declaration of a flu pandemic, imagine the excitement in news rooms as it allows them to legitimately whip up the fear a little more; find new angles to the same story.
Whilst it is correct that we should be informed and know how best to take precautions against this virus - with this incessant news coverage of our time - it is difficult to keep the scale of the problem in focus without getting swept away by the fear tsunami.
(The Department of Health is a direct source of advice and information: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831)
When you next watch a news item or feel afraid or anxious about something, anything - recognise and accept your emotion of fear; put it in to perspective. Meditation and prayanama (yoga breathing techniques) helps us to increase our awareness and clears the clutter from our minds. From this place of increased awareness, truth, love, compassion and kindness comes clarity and the ability to take more intuitive positive steps and decisions in your life. Knowing yourself allows you to separate the facts from the hype - to tune in to your higher energetic forces that operate in our Universe - to connect with Nature and the Universe itself by embracing the interconnectedness of all things. In short, Pranayama will help you to tune in to your natural intelliegence.
My new Tuesday evening pranayama workshops start again soon. It would be great if you could join me.
Next time, I shall write a few practical tips you can apply to boost your day-to-day immunity with Ayurveda.
Last 2 tweets from loveandwisdom: