Managing Your Web Network Energy

Anyone who has engaged in any kind of self-help/self-improvement work has most likely received some counsel on being careful with too much exposure to the negative energies of others. Sometimes we are even advised by counselors and/or therapists to completely cut off contact with individuals whose energy is particularly toxic. In order to be able to achieve and maintain mental and emotional health we need to learn to set healthy boundaries when it comes to the amount and intensity of negative vs positive energy to which we are exposed.

So how can we apply these principles to our online social networks? Here are some basic guidelines:

1. Limit daily social media time. This can prevent you from getting dragged into endless, draining debates and help ensure that you are getting enough in-person human contact.
2. Un-friend and/or block individuals who tend to post and share primarily negative comments and information. Just do it. You are not responsible for their feelings. You don't need that energy in your life. Would you hang around someone who was talking like that constantly? 
3. Pay close attention to what you are posting yourself. What kind of energy are you putting out there? Are you emotionally vomiting into cyber space? Are your posts problem focused or solution focused? Take responsibility for the energy that you are spreading on the Web.
4. Be attentive to where you are channeling your personal internet traffic. What websites, chat rooms, online news sources, etc. do you tend to visit and leave comments on? Are they reputable, reliable, and objective? Or are they inflammatory and gossip-driven?
5. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT participate in online gossip and cruelty! I'm talking about those snap shots and videos that people take and then post online with mean comments about how fat or ugly, or whatever else, they are and then other people add on more nasty comments. I'm talking about name-calling, and general online bullying. It's easier than one might think to get sucked into these kinds of behaviors. They are erosive to mental and emotional health. Don't participate. Better yet, interrupt it if you happen to come across it. Stand up for the targets of online bullying and cruelty.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but hope it helps. Leave your comments and/or questions below. 

Wishing you well.