Here and now

Television as a technology has become truly ubiquitous. I recently stayed at a hotel in San Francisco and noticed there was a small screen television mounted next to the mirror over the washbasin so I could watch television even while I was brushing teeth or shaving! Kicking back and watching television at the end of the day sounds relaxing, and most of us don’t even question it.But watching television has tremendous negative effects that become apparent on inspection.
The effect of television on the quality of life is unbelievable. It is an insidious monster lurking and sapping inner vitality. It is not so much simply the time spent watching television but the effect of that on ones consciousness.

Here is what I have observed as negative side-effects and after-effects of watching television:

• Eye strain
• Buildup of body tension (neck and eye muscles in particular)
• Depression and feeling of lack of energy
• Disinterest in doing anything creative
• Lack of enthusiasm for life
• Feeling of being defeated
• Feeling of emptiness and wanting to eat/drink/smoke
• Lack of interest in doing any exercise
• Irritability
• Impatience
• Quick temper on small things
• Feeling of contraction and tendency to judge and condemn quickly
• Apathy towards world events and feeling of isolation
• Worldview that there is a lot of evil out there
• Reduced empathy towards other people

Here is what Eckhart Tolle says about television in his book New Earth:

“The average American, by the time he is sixty years old, will have spent fifteen years staring at the TV screen. … While it provides some relief from your mind, you again pay a high price: loss of consciousness.”

Steve Pavlina talks about giving up TV. Instead of giving up television altogether, he has a clever suggestion. Give up TV for 30 days, and see how it feels.

Personally, I have found the effects of not watching television to be positive in every area of life. Are you ready to let go of this addiction?