Television

When you watch a movie with a dramatic murder scene and you see a person being stabbed to death by a knife, realize that it doesn't apply to your life. Once you turn off the TV, can't you see how everything "changes?" It's because you are moving away from this vicarious reality which exists in TV and going back to what you know to be true.

Don't misunderstand me, I think film is a wonderful medium to project an idea, but just realize that those ideas seem so real and so powerful because of how powerfully the directors are able to project that idea. Just notice that all the best film directors leave it open for you to decide how to feel rather than just having the characters tell you how it is, because you can say that they are wrong when you don't feel the same way =). All the best directors don't want you to have that option.

I have an experiment for you to try: next time you are watching TV, don't just watch and be told what is happening. Decide for yourself what is happening; it makes it more interesting and it goes in the direction you want it to =). So next time you are watching a violent murder scene or a car chase, remember that you are seeing it the way it means to YOU. The proof exists in the fact that we can all have different opinions about those scenes.

My intention today is to realize that I am my own influence.