Do you pay attention to what you listen to?

“TV, movies, games and books are much like food – for your mind and soul”

-Elaine Shpungin

Often times, I’d hear “be careful what you listen to and watch”, “be careful what your mind feeds on”. I knew it was true that what you listen to or watch could have effect on your mind but I never took it to heart.

I have heard that watching violent movies can make you violent or listening to music about violence, drugs, music that degrade women and even those that use profanity can have a negative effect on you. Always, I’d wonder how that is even possible. You know yourself, you know you can’t be violent, you know you respect women and probably don’t curse. Therefore, how can the movie you watch or the music you listen to make you change? I have discovered that it is true. It does have an effect on you one way or the other, consciously or subconsciously.

Here’s what Elaine Shpungin has to say

“Watching violent sequences in movies and TV can lead to increases in blood pressure, heart rate and galvanic skin responses – and to “short-term” increases in aggressive outbursts in adults. That is, adults are more likely to lose their temper or express anger in a way that is exaggerated soon after watching a violent TV or movie scene (the findings for children are more long term).”

She also mentioned this about music

“Turns out – even music with aggressive lyrics is associated with more aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviors.”

Now think about it. We all know that evil communication corrupts good manners. We also know how our friends can influence us positively or negatively. In other words, they have an effect on us. It is the same with your environment (probably where you grew up in), or staying around negative or positive vibes. It all has a way of influencing your life in one way or the other. How much more what you see and listen to?

Once upon a time in my life, I was surrounded by people who used profanity. From the people around me to the kind of music that played around me. I don’t cuss but would you believe I started cussing too. First time, I was kind of surprised. Then it happened again and again. Funnily, it was just in my mind and at a point, it started coming out easily. At that point, I knew I had to control it. I never made conscious effort to cuss, no not at all. Somehow, it was in my subconscious and when I spoke, it came out.

Ever notice how you know something is not right but you watch movies or listen to songs that approve these wrong things and gradually, you see nothing wrong with it or you become indifferent?  A big example is the issue of sex. In a way, it takes control of your thinking process, your judgments. Most times, we make judgments based on the norm, what’s right in our society today. However, what’s right in our society today might not be right with God no matter how normal and accepting it might be.

You should also see Opinions: Everyone has got one

What’s my point? Often times, these things happen and don’t just come because you decided to do them. They happen because whether you are aware or not, it’s all in your subconscious waiting for a day to manifest. It is always not about influencing negatively, it can also be positively too. The effect might not also be with regards to your morals. It could be your ideologies, your values, your truths, and way of life and so on.

We should never ignore the power music and TV has over us. Never depend on your strength thinking you cannot be easily influenced. The thing is you might not be aware when it all starts. It could happen subconsciously. If something isn’t healthy for you or your spirit, it’s important that you cut it off. Whether it is friends, your playlist, places you hang out in, the movies you watch and so on.

“So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs”

2 Corinthians 2:11(ESV)

What do you think? Do you think what you hear or watch has an effect on you?

Meanwhile, you can connect with me on facebook, twitter and instagram @theroyaldeviant Also, don’t forget to subscribe, to get more of these kind of contents right in your mail box.