When we have plenty of positive influences In our lives, we will be in a better position to find and live our calling. Today we look at an easy way to get some more good stuff in our minds. There are a variety of ways to watch documentaries. I really like the convenience and selection offered by Netflix streaming.
Netflix Documentaries
I have added Netflix’s documentaries to my personal list of positive input for my life. It’s a good alternative to watching TV for several reasons.
It’s easier to be deliberate in how we use our time.
TV networks have made it easy and appealing to stay for the next show. And the next one. And the one after that. Screen watching has a clear beginning an end when watching a single documentary.
Netflix is a lot less expensive than cable or satellite service.
At just $8 a month, Netflix’s streaming is a great deal. TV service is so expensive these days! If I were paying $60 a month for cable or satellite, I think I’d feel obligated to watch it a lot in order to get my money’s worth. The money that doesn’t go to the cable or satellite companies can go toward living our calling instead.
It’s easier to stick with higher-quality entertainment.
We get to look over Netflix’s entire selection of documentaries and pick what looks really interesting. Also, there’s no channel surfing where we settle for a low-quality show we never would have picked otherwise.
Documentaries stimulate our minds and get us thinking.
Regular TV offers a lot of mind-numbing shows that require nothing more than a passive, disengaged brain. Documentaries can introduce new ideas, raise questions increase awareness, and even inspire action.
Documentaries make great discussion-starters.
It’s an easy way to become knowledgeable about a wide array of topics. You can share what you’ve learned with other people. Watching then with other people can be fun, too. You can process the new information together.
We can practice different cognitive skills.
Documentaries offer a great opportunity to see the world from other people’s perspectives. Most likely, we won’t agree with everything we hear and see. It’s important to be able to process new information, assess how it fits with our understanding of the world and judge its truthfulness for ourselves.
We get to learn while being entertained.
I wish more entertainment would teach new, useful things. Some plain, fun entertainment is fine in moderation. However, most people don’t watch TV in moderation. 35 hours a week of entertainment is truly excessive. If we combine education with entertainment, a.k.a. edutainment, our time spent in front of the screen becomes worthwhile.
Some Good Documentaries
Over the years, John, myself and our boys have watched a lot of documentaries together. Following are some of our favorites:
- When We Left Earth
- Absolute Zero
- Hot Coffee
- Mind Over Money
- Absent
- King Corn
- Supersize Me
- Between the Folds
- Big Cat Diary
There are many interesting topics to choose from, like art, music, history, science, finances, and social issues, to name just a few.
Check It Out!
I encourage you to check out Netflix’s documentaries via streaming. You might find some topics that are close to your heart. They may even encourage you to move forward on your quest to find and live your calling.
