Although we recorded this interview back in September 2023, it could not be more timely. It is, in fact, about the times, about the news of the world as it comes in via our screen and newspapers, and whether there are practices that can support a more healthy relationship to that news. Our guest is Jay Michealson, writer of , who is both an excellent journalist (he appears regularly on CNN and other media outlets) and a fine meditation teacher and director of programming at New York Insight Meditation Centre.Jay guides a practice to first notice how we’re being impacted by the news – not trying to change how we feel – and then backing up into a place of compassionate not-knowing, a place of humility about what might happen in the future, about what’s going on inside other people’s minds, even about our own certainties.Such a good conversation! We talk about the balance of internal care and external service, environmental activism and inaction, about realism grounded in science, and much more. Thank you Rabbi Jay!
As I'm listening, my body is remembering the way media changed and shifted to 'real time' with news being carried via the internet. Think 25ish years ago. I remember the despair... the overwhelming feeling of not being able to impact or influence. Global events, often tragedies, playing out on my PC monitor in 'real time' and I couldn't help. So I shut it all off for a period of time. No news. And I saw community for the first time. And how connected I was to my neighbors. I closed my eyes today and felt how tender news still feels in my heart, but also how connected I feel to everything now. Not hopelessly disconnected.
Thank you for creating a space for remembering and/both imaginations.
I just listened to this and really liked it. News vs. peace of mind is a big issue for me, and I haven't had a simple tool like this to use. Thank you Jay, and Jeff, and Tasha. I'm feeling very grateful for your work.
Checking the news is one of the most reliable dopamine hits throughout the day. And unfortunately, as with all of these neurotransmitter boosts, when the pendulum swings back below baseline, the easiest way to soar back is a nibble of whatever current crisis we are collectively facing. Or some much welcome schadenfreude for people we don’t agree with!
This was a great practice for gaining a wider perspective. I admire those who take in very little news, as one friend puts it, because it “decreases her vibrational energy”. I found it comforting that people like Jay are in the biz and hope his measured approach gains traction among future journalists trying to reconcile wide open inner lives with the ever encroaching maelstrom of tragedy and disaster.
I loved listening to this. Thank you, Jay, for this tool. Also, your comment about bleeding heart liberals was awesome! Yes,we want our hearts to be open to compassion and love. FYI for all 3 of you, there is a website that distributes nothing but good news. Goodnewsnetwork.org. Check it out if you haven't already! It's a good way to strike a balance.
As I'm listening, my body is remembering the way media changed and shifted to 'real time' with news being carried via the internet. Think 25ish years ago. I remember the despair... the overwhelming feeling of not being able to impact or influence. Global events, often tragedies, playing out on my PC monitor in 'real time' and I couldn't help. So I shut it all off for a period of time. No news. And I saw community for the first time. And how connected I was to my neighbors. I closed my eyes today and felt how tender news still feels in my heart, but also how connected I feel to everything now. Not hopelessly disconnected.
Thank you for creating a space for remembering and/both imaginations.
I just listened to this and really liked it. News vs. peace of mind is a big issue for me, and I haven't had a simple tool like this to use. Thank you Jay, and Jeff, and Tasha. I'm feeling very grateful for your work.
Checking the news is one of the most reliable dopamine hits throughout the day. And unfortunately, as with all of these neurotransmitter boosts, when the pendulum swings back below baseline, the easiest way to soar back is a nibble of whatever current crisis we are collectively facing. Or some much welcome schadenfreude for people we don’t agree with!
This was a great practice for gaining a wider perspective. I admire those who take in very little news, as one friend puts it, because it “decreases her vibrational energy”. I found it comforting that people like Jay are in the biz and hope his measured approach gains traction among future journalists trying to reconcile wide open inner lives with the ever encroaching maelstrom of tragedy and disaster.
I loved listening to this. Thank you, Jay, for this tool. Also, your comment about bleeding heart liberals was awesome! Yes,we want our hearts to be open to compassion and love. FYI for all 3 of you, there is a website that distributes nothing but good news. Goodnewsnetwork.org. Check it out if you haven't already! It's a good way to strike a balance.
What is the book Jay references about climate doom written by a monastic.