Research has consistently shown that watching or reading news is bad for our mental health. According to the 2017 Stress in AmericaTM survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, “More than half of those surveyed (56 percent) say that while they want to stay informed about the news, doing so causes them stress. Further, many Americans (72 percent) say the media blows things out of proportion.”

About a year ago, my relationship status with social media changed to "it's complicated" after noticing that the more that I used social media (Facebook and Instagram in particular), the worse I felt emotionally. Thus began the process of trying to extricate Facebook from my life. If you found your way here, you know what a difficult and frustrating process that can be. 

In life and in the water, there are moments we face fear or pain or both. Spiritual growth is the decision we make in the moment to acknowledge our pain, breath through it, and let the waves carry us back to shore. 

Many people never realize that there can be no "salvation" in anything they do, possess, or attain. Those who do realize it often become world-weary and depressed: If nothing can give you true fulfillment, what is there left to strive for, what is the point in anything? . . .