Is Your Stress Really Yours? The Shocking Truth About What You Consume

healthy with nin mental health awareness personal growth stress management stress relief wellness journey Apr 01, 2025

We’ve all heard the saying: You are the sum of the five people you surround yourself with. It makes sense, right? If you spend time around ambitious, driven, and positive people, their energy rubs off on you. You start to think bigger, act bolder, and push yourself further.

But here’s something most people don’t realize: This same principle applies to everything you consume.
The music you listen to.
The shows you binge-watch.
The social media posts you scroll through.
The news you absorb daily.
All of these things are shaping your thoughts, your beliefs, and—yes—your stress levels.

Your Brain Can’t Tell the Difference Between Reality and Media

Let’s break this down. Imagine watching a horror movie late at night. Your heart races. Your body tenses. Maybe you even feel a little paranoid.
Logically, you know it’s just a movie. But your brain and nervous system don’t. They react as if you are in real danger, triggering the same stress response you would have if a real threat were in front of you.

Now, think about how this applies to negative news, violent shows, or toxic social media posts. If you’re constantly feeding your mind stress-inducing content, your body stays in fight-or-flight mode—leaving you feeling exhausted, anxious, and overwhelmed.

The truth is, much of the stress we feel isn’t even ours—it’s stress we’ve absorbed from the world around us.

90% of Your Thoughts Are on Repeat—What Are You Programming?

Studies show that 90% of the thoughts we have each day are the same as the day before. That means if we’re repeatedly exposed to fear, negativity, and stress-filled content, those thoughts don’t just stay in the background. They become our beliefs.

And here’s the kicker: Those beliefs might not even be true for us.

Think about it—how much of your stress is actually coming from your own life, and how much is being absorbed from outside sources? How much of your anxiety is from your own challenges, and how much is from the relentless stream of alarming news, online debates, and drama-filled content you consume?

Try This Experiment—Notice the Difference

Here’s a challenge: Take a break from stress-inducing content for a few days.
🚫 Cut back on the negative news cycle.
🚫 Swap out intense TV shows for something uplifting.
🚫 Unfollow accounts that drain your energy instead of inspiring you.

Then, pay attention. How do you feel? Do you notice more clarity? Less tension? A sense of ease you didn’t realize was missing?

Most people don’t realize how much of their stress isn’t theirs—it’s just a product of what they’ve been exposed to. But once you become aware, you can take back control. You get to decide what energy you allow into your life, what beliefs you hold onto, and what thoughts you reinforce every day.

Your Peace is in Your Hands

Imagine how different your life would feel if you consciously chose content that nurtures your mind instead of drains it. If you listened to music that lifted your spirit, followed accounts that inspired growth, and engaged with media that made you feel empowered instead of depleted.

You have the power to rewire your mind, shift your thoughts, and create a life filled with more peace and clarity. It all starts with what you allow in.

Because at the end of the day, the stress you carry shouldn’t be borrowed from the world—it should only be what truly belongs to you. And once you realize how much of it isn’t even yours, you can finally set it down.