What songs get stuck in your head?

The other day I walked out of a store with the song from their elevator music station playing in my head – a sad old love song from my high school days.

I’m amazed at how hearing the melody of songs from 30-40 years ago can recall the entire lyrics and play them in the background of my mind all day long!!

It’s a catchy tune, but when I stopped to pay attention to the words – I don’t want that story running through my psyche all day!! Nor do I want the jingle from the latest commercial.

But that’s what these songs and jingles, especially the advertisements, are designed to do. We live in a world that is constantly bombarding messages from every direction 24×7. And these messages are mastered to stick!

They tell us what to think – what’s good and what’s bad, what’s right and what’s wrong. They show us how to be cool – aka to be liked, get attention and love. They sell us on the latest gadgets we must have in order to get our basic needs met. Really? Our basic belief patterns are being programmed by television, radio and magazine advertisements? To a large extent, yes!

How does media influence our thoughts & beliefs?

There are blatantly obvious messages – if we’ve had a strong foundation that resonates with our inner knowings of right and wrong, we can usually choose whether to align with these messages – but not always.

Then there are more subtle messages – the implied but not spoken ones. These are the ones that sneak in under the radar where we don’t have a chance to challenge them. This is where we need to be careful.

This realization was highlighted for me last year when my friend, Mindi Fetterman, of Inner Truth Project, hosted a showing of the documentary, Miss Representation. This movie shows how the blatant and subtle messages in the media influence the way women and girls think of themselves and each other. The movie has a counterpart for men and boys, The Mask You Live In. I highly recommend them both!!

Both of these movies show how subtle the messages can be that define our gender stereotypes and influence the identities we and our children take on. They challenge us to wake up and take the power back – to live a life of truth that honors us and our children for who we are – not for what any media defines for us.

You don’t have to think too long or hard to conjure up some pretty nauseating portrayals of men and women in the media. But you can choose to change the channel, or turn them off all together. And if that proves too difficult for your family, you can find ways to discuss the issues so that it’s clear for your children that the reality inside of them is what is true – they don’t need to feel confused or conflicted by the messages in media.

How are media messages affecting you?

What are the noise fillers that fill the space of your home, your car, your workspace, the gym – whatever spaces you spend time? What are the tunes or phrases that run through your mind? Where do they come from? Are they visual as well as auditory?

Here’s a challenge for you this week – pay extra attention to the messages that come into your environment. Are these messages you want directing your thoughts, beliefs and behaviors?

Be discerning. Where can you choose to literally change the channel? Or turn it off all together?

If you are a parent, think about what you want for your children. I’m not suggesting you “control” their environment. They will make choices for themselves. However, I am suggesting that you choose the example you want to set. Whether you like it or not, everything you do as a parent or big brother or sister sets an example for the ones who look up to you. Choose wisely the example you want to be.

I choose to live without television in my home. I often travel without radio. For when I do want music, I have CD’s that I have chosen consciously to lift my heart and fill my mind with the thoughts and vibrations I want to live by.

There are enough downer vibrations out there. When you have choice, be conscious of how your choices affect you and the younger ones who are watching you. Everything matters.

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