Does Media Shape Your Life? Or Nah?

In the generation we live in today, it often seems like media shapes our lives, and I don't like that.

What is media, you are probably not wondering. It is a vile retched trap, that can also be wondrous if used right. (Example: Wesleigh uses it wrong. The LDS church uses it right.) There are many types or media-in my opinion- print media (newspaper, magazines), broadcasting media (tv, news, radio and we'll just throw movies in there too), and internet (facebook, blogs, twitter, all social media)! Yay no. 

Let's be completely honest here shall we. I Wesleigh, am addicted to media. WHO it thinks I must be, WHAT so-in-so is doing, that blog, Twitter, Facebook, so-in-so's diet plan, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Netflix, Tv, Movies....let's stop there.

Shameful right? I HATE that I am addicted to it. Although it is completely within my power to break that addiction, and I intend to do so. I hate that I listen to the voice of the world. I hate how artificial everything is. I hate the cruel judgment weighing on me and everyone. I hate that news casters feel like sharing a majority of negative things, rather than good. I hate how the world has strayed so far from religious values. 

All in all, I really just hate how it shapes my life and others. 

The majority of self-esteem issues come from artificial images and ideas sent from the media, and not to mention eating disorders. A large part of depression is media driven. Excessive time spent on some types of media can actually shorten and put your life at risk. Children these days act so different than they should, the media blurs our minds, creating artificial and fake lives. I could go on and on, but I won't because that would take ages and I do not have ages to waste here, and sadly I've already wasted enough. 

BUT I REALLY JUST WANT TO GET THIS OUT OKAY. 

Obviously the effects of media are large and vast in the world today. Their effects are felt by everyone in same way or another. Whether you feel affected by it or not, I promise you that you are. 

Let me share a story with you, of myself. Yay no. I, Wesleigh, feel as if my current circumstances have been shaped by the media. Allow me to shed some light on the subject:

Lately it has really come to my attention that nearly ALL my problems in life, or artificial problems if you will, have been shaped by the media. Self-esteem issues: I give you artificial images, unattainable standards set by society, judging myself based on others, although I am different in every way and can never be like them, feeling bad about my GOOD LIFE because you don't generally see peoples struggles on social media and it can seem like their lives are perfect, etc. Anger towards the world, because it is a sad broken place: Constant talk of the worlds struggles literally EVERYWHERE, I get that it's important let's just not dwell on that okay; people straying from Gods word and hurting, please come back, it's better here, and so much more. and I could go on and on (clearly I have a lot to say you feel). 

Is this making any sense at all? Probably not. 

The truth is, I am Wesleigh, and I cannot be anyone else, but myself, so why not love myself and reach my fullest potential. 

The truth is, hope is never ever lost. The world has so much good in it, I KNOW THAT, but I let the media shield my eyes. 

The truth is, the media is not a bad thing at all, no. It can be used for so much good, and it is a wonderful creation. 

Let's just use it wisely, and be aware of the dangers of media, please. 

You are worth so much more than you may feel, you are worth so much more than the media can make you feel. I promise you that you have great potential, we all do, REACH FOR THE STARS AND BEYOND MY FRIEND. Accept yourself for your flaws, mistakes you have made, everything. 

Have compassion on yourself, and treat yourself just as you would treat anyone else (which should be with love and kindness). If you wouldn't call someone else fat, don't call yourself fat, if you wouldn't call someone else ugly, don't call yourself ugly, if you wouldn't call someone else a failure, don't call yourself a failure. Love your neighbor as you would love yourself. :) 

( so there are bleed marks in this from the other side of the page, so what) 

I have decided to ditch most media for the rest of the summer (with exceptions such as this). It is really just not getting me where I want to go, in fact it is holding me back. I don't like that. I going OUT TO LIVE. And I might biff it, so what, fail forward, am I right? 

If you want to join me, please do. :) Feel free to use my picture if you want which you probably don't want to. Together we can leave our fingerprint in the universe, like stars in the night sky. Live elevated. Live free. Be alive. :)