A man from Scotland experienced a positive change in his lifestyle after deciding to stop watching television in the evening.
“I spent time creating the reality I wanted instead of numbing myself,” said 41-year-old Stephen Clarke to The Epoch Times.
Mr. Clarke is a mental and physical coach as well as an expert in life transformation. Watching TV at home since childhood seemed like a normal routine for him. After work, he would unwind by watching movies or shows.
While watching TV did not have any obvious negative impact on him due to his healthy lifestyle, what ultimately prompted him to make a change were the “less obvious side effects.”
“I could feel the negative energy I absorbed from movies and shows,” he said. “The exaggeration, violence, stress, not to mention the blue light emitted from the screen at night, stimulated and heightened my nervous system, magnifying it all.”
Describing television as a “hypnosis machine,” Clarke mentioned that the blue light and rapidly changing flashing images make TV programs a part of the subconscious.
“TV news constantly gives us reasons to be fearful, why we are different from each other, why we all need shields to protect ourselves,” he said.
He also felt that while watching TV, he wasn’t dealing with his own thoughts but rather numbing them, numbing his emotions and energy, which he couldn’t control. His clarity and vision for life began to blur.
“I experienced a significant shift in my life, where I was numbing the feeling with screens at night instead of doing what I should be doing, which made me uncomfortable. Our minds are always learning and being programmed into our environment. … Our nervous system adapts to the stimuli it experiences, whether in real life or on screens.”
Realizing this, he eagerly wanted to make a change.
“To be honest, once I made the decision, removing TV from my life was easy,” Clarke said.
As a father of three, he started exploring new activities like wood carving, playing the ukulele, and more. Additionally, he had more time for reading, cooking, embarking on adventures, and organizing activities for those who wanted to connect more with themselves, others, and nature.
Besides engaging in various activities, Mr. Clarke also found time to express his feelings, read insightful books, and build genuine relationships with those around him.
“Living without TV for a long time made me clearer about what I am doing and how I choose to live my life,” he said. “Both my relationships and work life are changing.”
Since making this choice, his friends and family have also noticed the difference.
“I am more aware of my energy, thoughts, and emotions, which are not always easy to perceive,” he said. “Certain things are surfacing that have been buried in my subconscious for decades.”
He shared an example from his life where after having a heart-to-heart conversation with a friend, his friend noticed “how sensitive I am to his energy, his feelings, and even where it’s coming from.”
As watching TV was a habit rather than an addiction for Clarke, turning it off was simple. However, this wasn’t his first conscious significant change in life. A few years ago, he quit drinking, which positively altered his social life.
Clarke posted on Instagram sharing his positive transformation with the world, and the post went viral, garnering over 82,000 responses. Netizens quickly shared their perspectives on the matter. The comment section was filled with both positive and negative feedback, with many sharing their experiences of living a TV-free life.
“I got rid of my TV six years ago, no regrets,” a social media user wrote.
“I no longer watch TV, only read books now, and the change is exponential. Economically, romantically, in every aspect,” another said.
For those aspiring to make such changes in their lives, Mr. Clarke said, “Your body and mind will adapt to the environment you give it, so your success is absolutely plan-able. All you need to do is actively engage in the process rather than passively be subjected to it.”
While Mr. Clarke hasn’t completely eliminated TV from his life, he attempts to add value to the content he watches when he does.
“I occasionally watch movies with my sons,” he said. “We enjoy watching 『Star Wars』; afterwards, we discuss many aspects of light and dark, love and fear, and some deeper philosophical points.”
By sharing his story with the world, Mr. Clarke aims to showcase the power of a TV-free life. He firmly believes in the power of human connections and hopes people worldwide choose to connect with themselves, each other, and the earth.
The original article, titled “Man Calls Television a ‘Hypnosis Machine,’ Stops Watching It in the Evening—Notices Positive Changes,” was published on The Epoch Times website.