I wrote this article back in 2000, but felt a need to update it and share it again now.

I awakened with a nagging question: What does the world gain by you retelling that story?   ”Story” refers to negative news and gossip.  When receiving negative news, we make judgments that the world is full of bad people and terrifying events.  Repeating such judgments leads us and others into fear.

If you believe, as I do, that thought creates, then, it is important that we hold positive thoughts about the world and its inhabitants. We must step back from allowing situations in which judgments of others are made. Stories that arouse passionate, judgmental feelings of others will not create better people or a better world.

Dr. Andrew Weil suggests a “news break,” but it is sometimes difficult to avoid exposure to news reports. Stations often repeat the same stories over and over, and many acquaintances seek our reactions to these news events.

In the interest of a better world, I decided to change my news habits. Then I thought about my own “news.”  Do I really need the pity of others by going into all the details of challenges in my life?  Can I put more focus on the lessons learned from each life challenge? Could I take a more compassionate view of world happenings?  I knew it would be difficult, but I was willing to try.

I made the following commitments:

I will avoid reading, watching or listening to the news.

I will avoid judgments of others.

I will avoid retelling stories that cause someone to think ill of another.

I will focus on the lessons that others are learning from their actions while remembering  that each individual is on their own path.

I will send them Love and Light to support them on their journey.

Three months passed without my reading a newspaper or watching the news. I really didn’t miss it. I have much more joy in my life and have found myself able to avoid the myriad of judgmental thoughts that had come so frequently.  Many people feel the need to build a wall around their home to live “safely.” I am surrounded by a loving, caring world now, and I find that I have more love in my heart to give and share with others.  I realized the world will be changed by those who have replaced fear with love.

I wonder how it will affect all of those investigative news shows if many of us change our news habits. It is important to me to do justice to this topic if the world thought is to be changed for a more positive view of others. How much more trusting of others would we become?

How less apt would we be to misinterpret or judge the words and actions of others? How much could we effect progress toward world peace? Can we get a “good news” paper printed daily instead of the alarming headlines we now read?

Would we all feel better physically without losing our energy to emotionally upsetting tales?  Have we been keeping ourselves weak?  With less fear and judgment of others, would we be able to come together for the greater good?  What good in the world could we do with extra energy everyday and by sending love to those who are struggling with challenges?

Update 2010:  I still don’t miss reading or listening to the news.  The little news that I do receive often does not sound positive, and so I use the information to send love, light and prayer for all those involved.  I refuse to get involved in other people’s drama or to let fear take the place of love. Please, join me in being a beacon of light with lots of extra energy to make a positive difference through love, light and prayer.

I once saw a program on television about a woman who was in an automobile accident that had blocked traffic.  While out-of-body, she was very aware that many around her were angry and impatient with the delay.

She was also aware that one woman in the crowd was sending loving energy to help her.  This gave her the faith and strength to hold on until additional help arrived. When she recovered from her injuries she managed to track down the sender of loving energies and thanked her for her efforts.

This story helped me to recognize the amazing effect of loving energies.  I thought about how I might begin to send more loving energy to assist those in need.

Being of assistance to those in need is not just something that happens when I am doing my healing working but is an integral part of who I am.  Now I had a new way of helping others.

I thought of how many times the piercing sound of an ambulance, fire truck, or police siren penetrated my thoughts.  I knew that each time I heard those sounds, someone was in trouble, so I now send Love and Light to whoever needs those sirened vehicles.

That is not the only time when Love and Light may be helpful.  There are those who have lost a loved one or who may be suffering from a sudden handicap or a long term illness. Maybe someone is just having a bad day and could use some help.

You can send Love and Light to those in other cities, states, or countries that are experiencing difficulties.  You can send Love and Light to our Leaders who we hope are making enlightened decisions for the benefit of all.

Someone once said to me that sending Love and Light is an intrusion and that the person may not want any Love and Light.  This implies that what is sent is a manipulation, but Love and Light is only sent to offer whatever is in the best interest of the person involved.

All have the right to reject the offer whether it be at a conscious or subconscious level.  The same is true in any healing session.  The healee, and not the healer, is in charge and decides how much healing to accept or reject.

As you open your hearts this Valentine’s Day, please, remember there are many who can benefit from your Love and Light, not only on this day but every day.