Iyanla Vanzant, The Myth of Digital Democracy, The Social Dilemma, Simon Sinek, and the Bhagavad Gita

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Sunday Supplement #80 (November 20th, 2022)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“The journey into self-love and self-acceptance must begin with self-examination. Until you take the journey of self-reflection, it is almost impossible to grow or learn in life.”

– Iyanla Vanzant

Book of the Week:

The Myth of Digital Democracy – Matthew Hindman

The Myth of Digital Democracy researches internet usage data with the aim of seeing what voices are most heard and if the public sphere is more inclusive.

The data describing web traffic and voice distribution was the most interesting aspect of the book for me.

Hindman’s book is a fascinating insight into how the internet works in these areas, but I think his conclusions are somewhat biased.

The Myth of Digital Democracy was published in 2008 by the Princeton University Press. Hindman’s sequel, The Internet Trap, was published in 2018.

Matthew Hindman’s book is one I’d recommend with a grain of salt. I found the research and data intriguing but didn’t entirely agree with the author’s conclusions.

Movie of the Week:

The Social Dilemma

A significant number of the human population uses some form of social media, and The Social Dilemma reveals how those platforms operate.

The documentary explored the dangerous effects of social networking, with many experts weighing in on platforms they helped create.

It does a brilliant job of weaving a dramatic narrative through the technical information to show how social media can negatively affect its users.

The Social Dilemma received praise for its content and won two Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program.

I think there are many benefits to social media and the internet, which is echoed in the documentary, but it’s worth being aware of how you engage with them. 

Brainfood of the Week:

Simon Sinek on How Reflection Informs Personal Growth | Capture Your Flag

Capture Your Flag is a career documentary interview series with up-and-coming leaders that shares knowledge to help better plan, pursue, and achieve life and career aspirations.

This is a clip from a 2012 interview with Simon Sinek where Sinek answers the question, “What role has reflection played in shaping your personal growth?”

Sinek defines self-reflection as the ability to look at oneself critically— not overly critical and not full of hubris.

“The ability to say I can take some responsibility for the outcome of that, good or bad. And I can learn to do that again, or I can learn to spot those situations and avoid them in the future.”

The short video is well worth the watch.

I’ve featured bestselling author and public speaker Simon Sinek in previous Sunday Supplements. Check them out if you like this video.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“For those who have conquered the mind, it is their friend. For those who have failed to do so, the mind works like an enemy.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:6

I’ve heard this verse before and have come across many variations of the same theme, but it is still one of my favorite reminders for mindfulness and self-reflection.

The Bhagavad Gita passage highlights how mastering your thoughts makes the mind a friend, but having no control allows it to be an enemy.

I find that control over my mind mainly pertains to if I consciously decide if I want to pursue a train of thought or not.

When I’m a conquerer of my mind, I recognize quickly that I do not need to pursue a negative train of thought if I don’t want to.

I don’t think you always need to control your thoughts, especially when they are happy or creative, but the ability to turn the control switch on is extremely powerful.

Keep track of your thoughts, and have a blessed week ahead!