Breaking the News Habit, Finding A New Habit
As a kid, I went to a ceramics class every Saturday morning. The teacher, with dry roasted peanuts always within reach, would constantly grab handfuls from bowls scattered around the studio. Lots and lots of salted nuts.
It wasn’t until later that I learned why: she was trying to quit smoking. The dry roasted peanuts were her healthier replacement for a habit that would have killed her.
Today, we’re hearing more and more recommendations to take a break from social media and news feeds, at least for the next couple of months. I know it’s difficult. While social media may not harm us as directly as tobacco, it still takes a toll on our well-being. Scrolling endlessly opens us up to fear and lack, which fuels our own anxiety and stress.
Think back to any decisions you’ve made from a place of fear, anxiety, or stress. What was the outcome? Probably not your best work, right?
We’re being called to make better decisions, to speak with confidence and clarity. It’s time to show up as the leaders we want to be. Starting now—or, at the very least, starting in January.
You already know the essentials: sleep, hydration, and centering practices. Do those things. Then, find your own dry-roasted-peanut-like replacement for the time and energy you’re spending on habits that aren’t serving you. Here’s my suggestion:
>START A POSITIVE FEEDBACK LOOP<
A positive feedback loop is when some action causes a reaction that makes the same thing happen even more, creating a cycle that keeps building up.
Remember last week, I sent a post-election follow up to offer a balm to the fear? Many people responded to me with notes like this👇
What happened?
I shared my thoughts with compassion and kindness.
People—some I know, some I don’t—responded in kind.
They felt a little better; I felt a little better.
The result? A little more compassion and kindness in the world, which then created even more. A positive feedback loop.
Here’s how you can start your own positive feedback loop and spread more love, compassion, and kindness:
Put yourself out there. Say or write what you’re feeling, and share it with kindness and compassion. Trust that the loving energy you put into the world will ripple out.
Reach out to strangers. Send a thoughtful note to someone you follow but don’t know or a LinkedIn contact you’ve never met. One sentence will do, like:
“Thank you for your thoughtful perspective. I appreciate you.”
“I follow your work, and it’s truly helped me during this time.”
“We have similar connections and a shared commitment to justice—would love to chat.”
Follow up with someone you’ve met. Even if it’s been months or years, reach out. It can be as simple as: “Hi, I was just thinking about you and how much I enjoyed our last conversation. Would love to reconnect.”
🚀 Is it rocket science? No.
🦄 Is it magic? Absolutely.
This is something totally within your reach. Right now.
