Concrete Steps
Before I talk about some concrete steps to take, let me talk a little about cognitive science. We all carry around beliefs about the way the world works. Every experience, fact, data, etc., gets filtered through these beliefs. Those that reinforce the beliefs get added to the filters almost immediately. Those that are counter to the filters get discarded. We are not rational beings no matter how much we like to claim we are.
However, our filters are only our view of reality. They aren’t objective reality. And when objective reality forces itself through our filters, the result is shock and confusion; i. e. shaking. The best antidote for the confusion is to get as close as possible to the ultimate Objective Reality, God. And to choose humility. And then humble ourselves even more.
By choosing humility, I mean continually being aware that we have a filter and attempting to look at each event and experience objectively in spite of that filter. Not thinking that the reality we see through our filter is objective reality, even if it’s the only reality we know.
Second, always remember that we are in a war between God and the kingdom of darkness. There is a continual effort by spiritual forces to deceive each of us at every point in our lives. To get us to doubt God, to devalue ourselves and others. To believe lies.
Then, we need to seek out good sources of information. And that means accepting the fact that every form of media (entertainment, news, social) is controlled to one degree or another by people either deceived, who want to deceive, or both.
It’s finally time to get down to brass tacks. Stay tuned.