Are getting caught up in thought and emotion gobbling stuff?

The headline on my Comcast homepage reads, “American Idol” Flap: Barba vs Frenchie.

Now lets see, in the scheme of your life, and what you want in your life, is this all worth your time, attention, thought and emotional involvement?

Whatever you think about revealing pictures floating around showing two people that have been on the American Idol show, is it something that contributes to your life.

We are bombarded all the time with news on this and that. What are the Hollywood stars and musicians doing in their life today? Who did what and to whom? I know It’s all very tantalizing to read, but is it worth it?

And particularly when you get emotionally charged about it one way or another, this can use and misdirect a lot of energy that could be better applied. It’s so easy to get boiled over about what the actors, musicians and sports stars are doing or not doing – I’m sure you have an opinion. But does that mean you need to use your time expressing it?

What he/she did today – So what! Let them be – you can’t do anything about it anyway. In the off chance you can, then get with it.

Here’s the thing, what you focus your thoughts and emotions on expands in your life. And the amount of time and energy you focus on something has a direct correlation on the affect it has on your life.

This may seem silly to think that thinking about these performers and their indiscretions, mistakes or bad choices has any bearing on your life, but it does. If nothing else, it keeps you away from thinking about something that may be more supportive to the life you want to be living yourself. How much time do you want to spend watching the lives of others at the expense of doing something purposeful with yours?

It is so easy to allow yourself to get sucked into this stuff when it is all over the news, the internet and people talk about it at work. But there is a thing called self-discipline that you have full command of. Just because you have been in the habit of giving some of your precious attention to this trivia, you don’t have to keep doing so.

If personal growth and awakening is important to you, think more about how you use your thought time. Ask the big question, “does this support my life, detract from it?” This little bit of self-analysis can do a lot for managing your time, focus and emotions.

In looking at how you use your time, it can be helpful to look at both, what you do and don’t do in terms of what you want.

Oh look, what is Britney Spears doing today, and that thing about the Dixie Chicks has risen again, and Barry Bonds, and, and . . .

What about your life? Go do your life.

John