Channel Changing Can Lead to Change

Listening to the radio is becoming obsolete as podcasts, audio books, and downloaded or streamed music are preferred sources of audio news and entertainment.  
Nonetheless, it’s very likely that each of us still tunes in to one particular “channel” fairly often; that is, the station with the call letters WIFM—What’s In it For Me.
Our ego’s survival demands that we regularly turn our proverbial dial (attention) to WIFM. Doing so allows us to consciously and subconsciously assess whether experiences and relationships will help us get our needs met.
Tuning into WIFM serves a valuable purpose then…as long as it’s not the only station we listen to, or we don’t linger on it for prolonged periods of time.
I was reminded of the concept of WIFM recently because I feel like we’re witnessing the tuning away from that “station” as people are advocating for issues and ideas much bigger than their personal interests. In a word, selflessness is taking root on a mass scale.
This excites me a lot! The way I see it, this collective “channel change” is the catalyst for powerful transformation. When people become passionate about working towards something bigger than themselves, a powerful sense of unity and oneness builds.
By default then, the ego diminishes allowing space for an individual to prioritize others’ needs as well as their own. 
My personal experience and observations of others has convinced me that, this shift is fundamental to making a person feel that they are thriving, not just surviving. Undoubtedly, the former is what we deeply desire.  
The problem with maintaining the thriving vibration, if you will, is that feeling inspired can wane over time for a variety of reasons. One reason is that we get distracted and resort to old patterns of thinking or behavior, such as tuning into WIFM.  
To combat this common tendency, it is essential to turn the dial to WSIM instead. This channel, “Wise Storytellers Inquire for Meaning” requires us to question the stories we tell ourselves, particularly the ones about other people.
Just as the ego feels weaker (while the soul strengthens) when we concern ourselves with others, our often unproven ideas about people erode when we choose to get curious about them rather than just accept fabrications blindly.  
Indeed, WSIM isn’t an easy-listening station; it requires discipline and a commitment to questioning deep-seated conditioning of beliefs. The beauty of its programming though is that it can greatly impact “listeners” by helping them gain self-awareness through the questioning of their stories.  
To the extent that self-awareness often spurs inspiration to think about others’ well-being, WSIM is integral to thriving while WIFM is helpful for mere survival.
I think we can agree that collective thriving is our shared goal. 
Hopefully, you’re choosing podcasts and audio books that contribute to that ideal. Now it’s time to also adjust your radio dial so that you’re tuning for a final call letter that amps up Meaning, not “Me.”


There’s no time like now to amp things up! Whether you’re coping with a loss, or seeking support and effective tools to develop a better relationship with your mind (which affects everything), please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to helping you tune your dial for thriving.