“We must always think about things, and we must think about things as they are, not as they are said to be.”

— George Bernard Shaw

The more our media specializes, the greater the risk of getting stuck in our own worldview.

If you’re on Twitter, your tweet stream probably centers mostly on your interest areas. If you’re on Facebook, there’s a reasonable chance you’ve eliminated “friends” who disagree with you by either de-friending or hiding them. If you get your news from Fox News or the Huffington Post you hear a view of events that fits more closely with your own worldview.

Once you’re stuck inside that worldview, it’s very hard to get out (or even know your trapped). Human tendencies are to reinforce our views with our action.

Know someone who’s vehemently anti-gun control, anti-tax, and anti-abortion? Do you see a steady stream of pro-gun, pro-limited government, pro-life Facebook memes?

Know someone else who’s pro-gun control, pro-tax increase, and pro-abortion? Do they also post incessantly?

Although they may be irritating, those who are stuck inside their own worldview can be a wake up call to the rest of us.

Try tailoring your media stream with links, tweets, posts, and emails from the ‘other side.’ Try seeking out sites that promote views you disagree with. Let an occasional annoying, opinionated email from a blatherer slip through your junk filter once in awhile. Of course you could turn off the media, and go volunteer somewhere which might really upend your world.

None of us believe we are stuck inside our own world view.

Yet today’s media landscape makes it easier than ever to get trapped …

… and to escape.

Yesterday’s gift of time … Travel2Change needed some help on a sparked challenge. Pitched in with a few ideas on how they could tailor their message. Travel is another good way to keep from getting stuck inside our own worldview.