Leo Tolstoy has a marvelous quotation: “Perhaps it is even more important to know what one should not think than what one should think about.”

This is especially in today’s world where our economic and political systems have created powerfully perverse incentives for politicians, pundits and businesspeople to seek our attention. One of the most powerful tools these “influencers” have at their disposal is fear.  If you pay attention, they often use and leverage fear to convince you to think about the things that profit them–either votes, ratings, “likes,” or monetary profits.

My advice? Get out in nature, go for a walk–preferably without a smartphone–and listen to yourself. You might just find that there is something else which can direct your thoughts. That “something” may just be your heart, love, or even a connection to a power higher than yourself. Give it a try.