The headlines from across Western Africa paint a bleak picture of the future. Several geopolitical issues are fueling uncertainty and complicating planning. The news from the rest of the world isn’t much better. In March 2023, Russia’s war on Ukraine marked its one-year anniversary. All of this is neither edifying nor uplifting. You can never be too careful with your news and media consumption. You must be mindful of what you read, listen to, and watch. Our actions are determined by our thoughts. And the media we consume shapes our thoughts. You should be more cautious with the media.
The main problem with mainstream news is that it focuses on bad news. It is not entirely the fault of the media. Bad news is more popular and sells more than good news. There is an incentive for news organisations to report the worst of what they can find rather than the good news that they do find. The Nigerian presidential elections in 2023 were marred by widespread disinformation campaigns. In which fake news was constantly spread on social media in order to smear the credibility of several leading candidates. Constant exposure to such media will cause you to despair and lose hope. They take away your future.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you–and more [besides] will be given to you who hear” (Mark 4:24 AMP). Give thought and study the truth. Stop consuming fake news that flies on social media. Invest in a good education and then seek to understand economic trends. Ignore news headlines and viral posts. You will perform better if you seek to understand trends and major issues in your industry.
