A man from Scotland noticed positive changes in his lifestyle after he decided to stop watching television in the evening.
Mr. Clarke, a spiritual body coach and life transformation specialist, grew up watching television at home as it seemed like a normal thing for him to do. After completing work, he would watch movies or television box sets.
Since he already followed a healthy lifestyle, he didn’t experience any glaring negative effects from watching television, but it was the “not-so-obvious side effects” that he eventually switched on to.
“I could feel the energy I was taking on board from the movies and shows I was watching,“ he said. ”The drama, the violence, the stress, not to mention the blue light from screens late at night activating and heightening my nervous system and exaggerating all of this.”
Describing television as a “hypnosis machine,” Mr. Clarke said the blue light along with the flashing images that constantly change at a fast pace makes the narrative a part of your subconscious.
“The news is constantly giving us reason to be scared, why we’re different from one another, and why we all need to shield and protect ourselves,” he said.
He also felt that while watching television, he wasn’t processing his own thoughts, but rather numbing them, his emotions, and his energy. Instead of working through them, he began blurring his clarity and vision for life.
“I experienced big transitions in my life, and I was numbing the feelings of that with screens in the evening, rather than doing what I should have been doing, which was sitting in my discomfort,” Mr. Clarke said. “Our minds are always learning and being ‘programmed’ from our environment. ... Our nervous system adapts to the stimulus it experiences, whether in real life or on a screen.”
Living Television-Free
“To be honest, once I had made the decision to remove the TV from my life, it was easy,” Mr. Clarke said.The father of three began to learn new things such as wood carving, playing the ukulele, and more. Additionally, he was able to spend more time reading books; cooking; going on adventures; and organizing events and retreats for those who wanted to connect more with themselves, with others, and with nature.
In addition to his various activities, Mr. Clarke was also able to take time to sit down with his feelings, read insightful books, and build authentic relationships with those around him.
“Every month that passes without constant TV exposure gives me more clarity on what I’m doing and how I choose to live my life,” he said. “My relationships are transforming as well as my working life.”
Since he opted to change, his friends and family have also started to notice a difference.
“I’ve also become much more aware of my own energy, thoughts, and emotions, which isn’t always easy to witness,” he said. “Some things are coming to the surface that have been buried in my subconscious for decades.”
Sharing an instance from his life, he described how, after having a heart-to-heart conversation with one of his friends, his friend noticed “how sensitive I was to his energy, how he was feeling, and even where it had come from.”
Sharing His Journey With the World
Mr. Clarke shared his positive change with the world in an Instagram post that went viral, racking up over 82,000 reactions. Netizens were quick to share their thoughts on the subject. Both positive and negative remarks filled the comment section, with many people sharing their own experiences of living a television-free life.“I got rid of my TV six years ago, no regrets,” one social media user wrote.
“I stopped watching TV and just read now and the changes have been exponential. Financially, romantically, in every way,” another said.
For those who would like to make this change in their own lives, Mr. Clarke said: “Your body and mind will adapt to the environment you give it, so your success can absolutely be programmed. It’s about choosing to engage with this process actively rather than being subject to it passively.”
Mr. Clarke hasn’t cut television out of his life completely, but when he does watch it, he tries to bring value to what he is watching.
“I’ll watch a movie now and again with my sons,” he said. “We love watching Star Wars, and we talk a lot afterward about light and dark, love and fear plus some deeper philosophies.”
By sharing his story with the world, Mr. Clarke hopes to demonstrate the power of living a television-free life. He is a strong believer in the power of connection and hopes to see individuals around the world choosing to connect with themselves, with each other, and with the earth.
