Please Stop, You Must Stop: Protecting Your Mental Space

Lesson:

Success isn’t about watching others fail; it’s about learning, growing, and building something of your own

In today’s hyper-connected world, it is a collective responsibility to protect our mental space. As someone who spends their career in media and broadcasting, I’ve seen firsthand how the constant barrage of information can shape perspectives, attitudes, and ultimately, lives. Today, I write with a firm conviction about the necessity of guarding our minds, inspired by a growing sense of frustration that stems from the overwhelming focus on the personal and professional failings of high-profile individuals in the media, particularly Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Frankly, I am done hearing about Diddy. Completely done. The obsessive attention surrounding every aspect of his life—both the accomplishments and the missteps—has reached a tipping point. I understand that, as a media personality, I may be expected to stay current with such headlines. But what disturbs me most is how our society has transformed the failings of this individual into a form of amusement. The energy poured into dissecting his downfall is not just symptomatic of a much larger, more dangerous issue, but a societal responsibility we all share: the relentless feeding of negativity into our minds.

When we continuously fill our mental space with negative information, we become consumed by it. It's crucial to maintain a balanced media diet, including positive and constructive information. This kind of environment is conducive to personal growth, creative thought, and achieving one’s own aspirations. Instead of being dragged down, we are informed and aware, shaping our thoughts, habits, and beliefs in a way that serves us best.

What saddens me even more is the pleasure many seem to derive from Diddy’s struggles. Diddy—love or hate him—built one of our time's most significant financial empires. He made his mark on the music industry, fashion, liquor, and beyond, creating a vast economic legacy that deserves recognition. However, today, we find ourselves gleefully witnessing its potential downfall, as if we stand to gain something from his loss.

This mindset doesn't stop with Diddy. Equally disheartening is how people eagerly wait for Sean Carter, better known as Jay-Z, to fall from grace. The mere mention of any scandal in music or hip-hop now seems to come with an undercurrent of expectation: How does this tie back to Jay-Z? A mounting chorus of memes and theories predicts his eventual downfall as though it's inevitable.

But why? What is the root of this fascination with watching successful people crumble? Why do we revel in the prospect of someone who has achieved more than we could ever dream of failing?

I ask you to pause and reflect: What do we gain from it? More importantly, what do we lose?

By investing our energy into the failures of others, we lose sight of our potential. We become more spectators than participants in life. We stop dreaming. We stop creating. We stop climbing toward our own goals. Instead of feeding our minds with ideas that propel us forward, we feed on the misfortunes of others. This behavior has a certain irony, especially when it comes from individuals or communities claiming to value positivity and success. How can we preach empowerment while simultaneously delighting in someone’s demise? How can we claim to be uplifting when we are more invested in seeing a mogul lose their footing than in building something of our own?

I recognize that, as a media professional, I have a responsibility to stay informed and report on the trends, news, and stories that shape our world. But I also recognize that I must do so without letting negativity cloud my soul. There’s a difference between staying informed and letting yourself be overwhelmed by the constant stream of toxic headlines.

What we choose to focus on matters. I’ve consciously decided to be selective about what I allow into my mental space. I aim to fill my mind with what’s clean, positive, and pure. I want to focus on inspiring ideas, people who uplift, and stories that encourage growth and progress. This isn’t just a personal mission—it’s a call to all of us. Let’s get back to positivity.

It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and critique, laugh, or speculate on someone else’s journey. But you are focusing on your own path, which is much more challenging and far more rewarding. The more time you spend investing in yourself, the less time you’ll have to fixate on the missteps of others.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” I’d argue that this also applies to our minds: You are what you consume. Feed your mind negativity, and that’s what you’ll get back. Surround yourself with positivity, inspiration, and growth, and you’ll see those things reflected in your life.

The media will continue to report on public figures, and some scandals will always garner attention. But we don’t have to give them our entire focus. We can focus on what builds us up rather than what tears others down. Diddy’s story shouldn't be our entertainment, like so many others before it. It should serve as a reminder of how easy it is for even the most successful individuals to face challenges. Instead of laughing or speculating, we should be learning. What can we take from this? How can we apply it to our own lives?

So, today, I encourage you to do a mental audit. What are you consuming daily? How much time are you scrolling through headlines, gossiping about the latest downfall, or feeding into the negative energy that saturates our media? Now, ask yourself: How much better could you be if you shifted that focus? What would happen if you invested that energy into your dreams and goals?

I leave you with this thought: Success isn’t about watching others fail; it’s about learning, growing, and building something of your own. If we can redirect the time and energy spent on negativity into something positive, imagine the world we could create. Let’s stop feeding into the fall of others and start climbing our mountains. It’s time to return to the business of building, dreaming, and creating—both for ourselves and the generations to come.