In the Thunderflies community, we talk about safe spaces a lot. We value them. They’re so important to us that we have specific guidelines to help new members create them in their own spaces. That’s because healthy and supportive spaces are instrumental to our happiness as individuals and as a group. And while these conversations are always welcomed, they feel especially timely right now. The world feels very much like an echo chamber of negative thoughts, actions and emotions right now. Reducing our risk of exposure to these negative things is essential for avoiding burnout or triggering experiences; both of which can be detrimental if prolonged or repeated often enough. Below you will find some tips for keeping your thoughts, feelings and beliefs about the world safe from the threat of negative influences from external sources as well as from yourself.
Be conscientious of self-care and support.
Being present with yourself and others is essential to creating safe spaces. This means being aware of how you are feeling and what your needs are moment by moment. This includes being conscious of the support network you have at your disposal. Are you currently in touch with your support network? Is it the right fit for you? If not, what can you do about it? A strong support network is crucial for helping us avoid the echo chamber effect by providing us with a more diverse range of opinions and experiences. This is especially helpful for those with few immediate connections or a more esoteric occupation. If you don’t have a support network in place, it’s not too late to start building one. Whether it’s through therapy, support groups or a trusted network of friends and family, you deserve to have a support network in place. An excellent way to ensure that your support network meets your needs is to create a support grid. A support grid is a document designed to list your support network along with a short summary of the benefits they provide you with. A support grid can help you identify gaps in your network that may be preventing you from receiving the right kind of support. It can also help you avoid asking incompatible or inappropriate people for help.
Be discerning about what you consume and from whom.
Any time you engage with the media or content created by other people, you are taking in their thoughts and feelings. You might even be propagating them. If the media you engage with contains oppressive content or if the creator of that content is promoting harmful ideas, you are taking on some of that negativity. This is especially likely if you are engaging with/consuming the content while feeling a lack of empowerment. This is why it’s important to be discerning about the things you expose yourself to. Technology is a particularly significant source of external negativity and can negatively impact how we engage with ourselves and others. For example, social media can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, envy, or anxiety. When engaging with technology, try to be mindful of these potential pitfalls. Be aware of the emotions you are feeling and if they are appropriate given the situation at hand. By being discerning about what you consume, you are better able to control the external negativity you take in. By being aware of your emotional state and mindful of when, why and how you use technology, you can reduce the negative externalities of technology.
Use technology mindfully.
As with consuming external media, engaging with technology too often can contribute to the echo chamber effect through the transmission of negative thoughts, feelings and emotions. To combat this, try using technology mindfully. Be mindful of the way you are interacting with technology. Do you really need to be using it? If not, could you put it away until you do? Are you engaging with the content you’re engaging with in a positive way? Are the thoughts and feelings you are experiencing as a result of it positive? If not, is there anything you can do to change either your media or device usage? Thunderflies
Take regular breaks and use them to recharge.
Taking regular breaks from both technology and the media you consume is a great way to reduce your exposure to the echo chamber effect. You can even make it a rule to avoid engaging with these things for a certain amount of time each day. By taking breaks from these potential sources of negativity, you have time to separate your own thoughts and feelings from those of others. You are able to re-establish your own emotional equilibrium and recharge your energy. By recharging, you are better able to combat the negative effects of the echo chamber effect when you return to the activities you took breaks from. Regular breaks can also help counter the impulse to make impulsive purchases or engage with technology at an unhealthy level. The break allows you to step away from the temptation and reassess your needs.
Create safe spaces in your life and online.
Creating safe spaces for yourself and others is a great way to reduce external negativity. You can do this in your own life by talking to people you trust about the things that are troubling you or by creating safe spaces online. You can talk to your friends and family about the things that are worrying you (or write them in a journal if you prefer to keep your thoughts private). You can also reach out to the Thunderflies community and talk to us about what’s troubling you. You are welcomed to post in our Thunderflies Support Thread. You can also create safe spaces online. There are many ways to do this, but here are a few suggestions: – Create and participate in Thunderflies-oriented spaces. – Create and participate in non-Thunderflies-oriented spaces that are mindful of the negative effects of the echo chamber effect. – Moderate and enforce safe spaces in the spaces you moderate.
Conclusion
The world can be a very scary place, especially for those who are most vulnerable. When we are exposed to external negativity without a way to mitigate it, we are at risk of being negatively affected by it. – The only way to protect yourself from this danger is to build safe spaces for yourself and others. – To do this, you must be discerning about what you consume and from whom, use technology mindfully, take regular breaks and recharge, create safe spaces in your life and online, and be conscientious of self-care and support. Fortunately, there are many ways to protect yourself and others from the negative effects of the echo chamber effect. All you have to do is put in the effort to make it happen.
This article is provided by https://www.goodgardn.co.uk/blogs/thunder-flies
