The place to begin this study is round-the-clock news that is spawning news addicts. Following the news is justifiable and often needed. However, not all news is essential for us and can sometimes be harmful.

For example, constant news of violence around the world, atrocities, hardships, senseless deaths and massive migrations is unnerving. Most disheartening is news of children and the elderly becoming "unnecessary."
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Feeling heartfelt sympathy and a burning desire for peace in the world is at the heart of being a human being. Equally human, however, is to take account of what these disturbing events are doing to our spirit.

If our spirit is being destroyed, the time has come to take counsel with God, praying for God's wisdom and serenity. Likewise, it is extremely important to make a thorough examination of the state of our spirit amid these reports.

Life is filled with routines, some of which make it joyful and some of which need to be changed. The routine of watching television or listening to the radio is an enjoyable American pastime. It loses its enjoyment, however, when it raises blood pressure, causes sleepless nights, and turns our emotions and thinking upside down.

Wisdom dictates that we reflect on how detrimental disturbing news is to our spirit and to act when it is endangered. If inaction outweighs action, the time has come to survey our self-discipline that gives us control over that which is controlling us.

Implied here is that we enter the "realm of myself with myself alone," coming face to face with the forces and tensions in our interior life and examine the state of our own center, the conscience that directs our life.

Achieving the interiority recommended here is difficult because of outside activities constantly distracting us from having the discipline needed to control our life.

The need to contend with outside activities depleting our spirit and sense of self-solidarity prompts us to get a firm grip on our center so that we can start to revive with God's help.