The Dangers of Negative Programming
Reprogramming the Mind: Liberating Yourself from Negativity"
Photo from jakeforeman
Special thanks to Jake Foreman for generously permitting the use of their captivating artwork in this newsletter. Your creativity and vision add depth to these ideas. Your support is immensely appreciated.
Imagine offering a person from a remote island a McDonald’s Sprite; never encountering carbonated drinks, they’d likely feel confusion, curiosity, and suspicion. The intense urge to understand it might lead them to taste it, finding its sweetness astonishing, perhaps even shocking enough to discard. Some might consider using it as medicine or a cleaner due to its resemblance to a strange form of water.
Similarly, envision someone in the 1700s having that same encounter, they would perceive it as an enigmatic and alchemical substance. Their immediate reaction would involve thorough experimentation, driven by a more modern mindset there would be more diligent inquiries and speculative theories would arise as well.
It's like when you encounter something totally new and intriguing—you're curious to understand it. Their reactions and thoughts about this drink would be influenced by what they know and the beliefs they have. Similarly, our own surroundings and the things we learn affect how we perceive and react to new discoveries.
Our world often promotes believing without questioning the credibility of what is being said. Many African households uphold the principles of “ You must do what I said because I am older than you and because I said so!!”
While fostering respect, it stifles curiosity, leading many to passively accept their surroundings.
“Go to School, Get a Job, Marry Early, Buy an Expensive car and Build or Own a Big House”
These stereotypes foster a herd mentality, often resulting in individuals landing in professions or marriages that leave them with deep regret. It's not solely due to choosing the wrong job or partner rather the lack of thought-provoking questions contributes to these situations. Social Media and the News do not help this narrative as well, there have been numerous instances where popular news channels have been found guilty of promoting false propaganda to fit a particular stereotype.
How then can we break free from this pitfall of blind acceptance?
"The Danish way of parenting, which uses the P.A.R.E.N.T. method, is like a cool toolbox with fantastic ideas. They believe (Playing) helps us learn to talk, control our feelings, and make friends. Being yourself (Authenticity) is super important; it means being honest and staying true to who you are. Changing how we look at things (Reframing) can make life more positive. Also, they think being nice and understanding others (Empathy) is a big deal. Parents not using too many strict rules (No ultimatums) helps everyone stay calm and happy. And being together (Togetherness), doing stuff as a family, makes kids feel good about themselves. These ideas can help us see the world in a better way, be kinder, and feel more confident.
Another critical aspect involves evaluating and analyzing information sources. It's essential to maintain skepticism towards content on social media and mass media platforms.
DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON THE NEWS!!