Tuesday, I had a rare free day. So I caught up on Podcasts and scrolled to my heart’s content. By the evening, I realized I had not had an original thought all day. I was numb and no longer spiritually awake. It’s crazy how easy it is to allow yourself to be sucked into any form of entertainment.
Podcasts, Music, audiobooks, news reports, talk shows, and a billion streaming services and YouTube channels compete for our attention every day. I remember the old days, when there were only 4 TV channels in our home in rural Illinois. That was way back in the 1900’s. And even those turned off at midnight. Remember those days? It was a different world.
Slow down
It’s too easy to let yourself listen to something or watch something almost every minute of every day. When my son was a baby, I made a goal to slow the pace of my life to match his. I turned down the volume on everything, and I made an effort to be present. I loved watching him learn new things and experience life for the first time. It was a major change.
I went from a fast-paced career in the inner city to being the stay-at-home mom of a newborn. The pace of my life changed dramatically! I even made an effort to be gentler in how I held my baby. I had no idea at the time that my son was on the autism spectrum and would remember every detail of his infancy. I’m glad I changed. He needed that slower introduction to the world.
Since we can’t all slow down to the pace of a newborn, how can we avoid becoming numbed by too much media consumption? I’m not talking about cutting yourself off entirely. But I have recently started intentionally giving myself space without anything playing. It lets me process the good messages I have heard that day. And I feel like my mind is more my own, and my soul is awake.
I also find that I sleep better if I turn off the media when I am getting ready for bed, and just let myself sit with my thoughts. When I keep an audiobook or podcast going, my brain keeps working, and sleep is slower in coming. And media breaks throughout the day are beneficial.
How do we wake up?
The media has an important place in our lives. I learn a lot from podcasts and news reports. One of my favorite scriptures is Doctrine and Covenants 88:118,
It says: “… seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
I’ve found a wonderful resource for seeking the best books is Deseret Bookshelf. It’s an app by Deseret Book where you can listen to or read any book they have published. There is some serious wisdom available for us when we are looking for it.
Alternatively, another great place to spark ideas is listening to General Conference talks. I love General Conference weekend. But with 5 sessions of the Conference, totalling 10 hours of content, there is so much being presented all at once. It’s like trying to drink from a fire hose. Instead of going from being spiritually drowned to spiritual drought, I like to listen to conference talks periodically throughout the year. It lets me savor the Spirit and process the messages at my own pace.
There is no shortage of information in the world. So I found the best way to learn is similar to eating. You take a bite, chew on it for a bit, and swallow. Learning is like that. You learn a bit, and let your mind work on it, take it in if it “tastes good” or feels right, and then you are ready for more.
Seek Him
As we are seeking learning, and trying to avoid becoming brain numbed, I have found I can’t fail if I am always seeking Christ. In October 2024, Bishop L. Todd Budge, Second Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, spoke in General Conference. His talk is called Seek Him with all your heart. He says:
Quiet time is sacred time-time that will facilitate personal revelation and instill peace. But to hear the still voice of the Lord, … you too must be still.
Being still, however, requires more than just making time for the Lord—it requires letting go of our doubtful and fearful thoughts and focusing our hearts and minds on Him. Elder David A. Bednar taught, “The Lord’s admonition to ‘be still’ entails much more than simply not talking or not moving.” To be still, he suggested, “may be a way of reminding us to focus upon the Savior unfailingly.”
Being still is an act of faith and requires effort. Lectures on Faith states, “When a man works by faith, he works by mental exertion.” President Nelson declared: “Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee.” Speaking of this need to focus our minds, President David O. McKay said: “I think we pay too little attention to the value of meditation, a principle of devotion. … Meditation is one of the … most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.”
There is a word in Japanese, mui, that, for me, captures this more faith-filled, contemplative sense of what it means to be still. It is comprised of two characters (無為). The one on the left means “nothing” or “nothingness,” and the one on the right means “to do.” Together they mean “non-doing.” Taken literally, the word could be misinterpreted to mean “to do nothing” in the same way “to be still” can be misinterpreted as “not talking or moving.” However, like the phrase “to be still,” it has a higher meaning; for me it is a reminder to slow down and to live with greater spiritual awareness.
Stay awake
Do you see what I mean about Conference talks having great wisdom? Living with greater spiritual awareness is my goal. That’s why I am always seeking out good podcasts and listening to good audiobooks. As I read Bishop Budge’s talk, I realized anew that seeking God is about finding quiet times and places in our hearts to think about the things of eternity. God will never lull us into spiritual sleep. That’s what the other guy does.
The Second Coming is drawing nearer. And with it will come greater light and knowledge, more revelation, and more great insights from the Lord. If we focus on God and keep ourselves from being brain numbed, we will be in a better place to learn all He wants to teach us. The Millennium will be a time of great knowledge, and I want to be awake for all of it. I’m sure you do too. Good luck in your efforts. I’d love to know your favorite tricks to avoid being brain numbed.
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