Be In The Know

 Ever since we were kids, we always wanted to “be in the know”. It made us feel involved, included, part of something, knowledgeable, maybe even important or special. What if I told you that the constant need to be informed about everything is actually doing more harm than good? And if you can learn to “stay in your lane”,  then you will end up being grateful for it. Let me explain… 

How Big Is My Bubble?

I finally began to understand his concept during my years working at a summer camp(Avid 4 Adventure, 10/10 recommended for campers and employees). The first year I was an instructor. That meant that my bubble of concern/information included leading 12 youth through high adventure activities with a co instructor by my side. As Cos, we managed any issues or concerns within our group for the two weeks that the kids were with us. 

During training, we were taught the concept of “go up, not out”. Meaning, if we had issues of any kind and needed advice or assistance, we were meant to seek the leaders above us. For example, first we were to go to the supervisor assigned to our group, then an assistant director. Then if needed, but hopefully not necessary, we could go to the director. This system was intended to keep people in their own lane, focused on doing their own job. That way not to be split between problems to solve, they can perform their assigned tasks efficiently and effectively. I understood the importance of this on a basic level, and didn’t want to be stressed with other groups’ drama. So I kept my focus and attention on my group. 

A Bigger Bubble = Bigger Issues

Fast forward a year, I was offered a supervisor position which expanded my bubble by a lot. I became the first line of defense for 5 groups which entails 10 staff and over 50 kids. My summer camp bubble of responsibility grew over 4X. With that, I also multiplied the problems, issues, and drama 4X. I suddenly became so grateful for my leaders during year 1. Because I didn’t understand how much they took on, while I only dealt with my small group. Yes, both jobs are very difficult in their own ways, but I grew appreciation for the small bubble I once had. I was limited on how many issues I was exposed to as an instructor, and I found that I had missed that while working as a supervisor. 

How does this relate to a world outside of summer camp?

Over time, I began to notice a correlation of what I learned at summer camp to the world today. People’s bubbles of information and concern have been getting bigger and bigger over the years. Before the internet, or even public newspapers, all the information people received was through books(if available) or word of mouth. This mode of communication limits knowledge to a much smaller geographic area as well as the sheer volume of information. There was once a time where all the issues people were aware of were within their own homes, neighborhoods, or towns. 

Now with the internet, the news, and social media, you can know what feels like anything and everything, all around the world. In many ways that’s pretty remarkable, but is it necessarily healthy for our bubbles of concern to be so big? The media enables everyone to be “in the know”, but that doesn’t mean we should be? 

Types of Information we Receive

Let’s first be more specific on what types of information everyone is fed these days.

1. Ads- people are consistently trying to sell you something. Whether its an idea, a product, a new trend… They want to convince you that whatever “the new greatest thing” is, is something you need.

2.News- local, national or international, current events(positive and negative), wars, social movements, economic updates, politics, natural disasters… 

Lets Think About It

There is so much information coming in from so many sources. How many people stop and think about how true it all is(Take It With a Grain Of Salt)? Or more importantly, how necessary is it all? Let’s take a moment to think and reflect on these questions. 

Does knowing this information serve me?

• Am I learning from it?
• Will I use this information in the future?

Can I influence or make a difference in what’s going on?

Does this information encourage me or discourage me?

Is it causing too much stress?

Does it affect my emotional well being?

What type of information can I handle?

How much information can I absorb and use at one time?

See, during different periods in your life, you will have different levels of bandwidth. Maybe your personal life is stable and calm, so you can open the door to the issues of the world. But other times, your personal life will be more than enough to handle on its own. And the politics or neighborhood drama will just have to wait. 

What to do

It’s important to be aware of the information you let in. As well as to know that it is within your power and control to filter that information. 

• You can choose if you listen to the radio or watch the news.
• If that choice is to open up your mind to that information, then you can choose the sources and content.
• Although, sometimes you can’t choose the ads that pop up on social media, you can choose to stay off it all together.
• You can engage in political conversations with friends, family, or peers, or you can request not to. 

The whole point is that you have more control over what goes into your brain and what goes out of it, than media would like. So be intentional about how you care for your brain.

Don’t Always Be In The Know

I want you to know that it is okay not to “be in the know”, in order to take care of yourself. Too much information, especially with things that have nothing to do with us, can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety. For example, as truly sad as it is, that someone I don’t know may have died in a small town over 1,000 miles from my house. It is okay to let that tragedy stay in that family’s and that town’s bubble of concern. It is also doing yourself and them no good if the energy you are giving off to that grieving family is sadness and despair. If knowing about a tragedy could heal, it would be by sending good energy and well wishes, not stress and anxiety. 

 I want to add, that I see the importance of community and even world support. There is strength in numbers and there can even be a strong healing power from the thoughts and efforts of so many people all at one time. But my point is, that you have to take care of yourself first. If this constant flow of negative information is wearing down on you, cut it off or reduce it. Learn to be in the know for things that truly matter to you. 

Comment Questions:

What sort of information do you get excess of in your life?

Is there any information sources you are going to try and eliminate or reduce?