Recently, we all know that our country is being flooded with various controversies, ranging from economic to social issues. As we know, fellow UNDIRA students, information now circulates very quickly—whether through friends, social groups, or when discovered independently. Although information is a data source that should be manageable, it does not rule out the possibility that misinformation or misinterpretation can occur. In truth, Information carries more beyond mere data reports or numerical statistics.

Fellow UNDIRA students may often encounter opinions that keeping a cool head is the key to success, but in reality, it is not that simple. According to research presented by Ellis & Hunt in 1993 and Matlin in 1998, it is believed that information processing can be significantly influenced by emotions.

The influence of emotions can also impact the information we store in the part of the brain called the Hippocampus (located in the middle part of the brain). The influence of emotions can also affect which parts of information are remembered according to mood congruence and mood dependency. Although emotions are aspects that can be subdued over time, it is possible that emotions can deceive our thinking with external stimuli or provocation.

Referring to this theory, what can we do to manage the information we absorb, fellow UNDIRA students? The following are some tips regarding the management of logic and emotions to avoid provocation and misjudgment in daily life.

1. Filter Before Sharing: Process Information First

The ease of connectivity now adds its own challenges, especially for social media that allows information traces to be archived periodically. As academics, it is appropriate for us to cross-check various information outlets that serve as references. This way, we hope to minimize ambiguity and provocation from visible information.

2. Focus on the Positive Aspects of Available Information

Information cannot be accepted at face value. One way to ease mood is to search further or think longer about whether there are other meanings from the provided information.

3. Avoid Judgmental Mentality

Life has diverse dynamics; as educated individuals, we should be able to see information angles from various perspectives. Through absorbing information from various angles, we can carefully understand our surroundings comprehensively.

4. Limit Social Media Usage

Social media that provides various information channels tends to become a source of mood swings if we allow it to continuously shake our emotions. Therefore, self-limitation in using social media is highly recommended to minimize self-comparing mentality.

5. Apply Mindfulness and Focus on the Present Moment

The desire to educate oneself is indeed one of the main drivers for humans in seeking and remembering information. However, we need to understand how to position ourselves and manage emotions appropriately.

It is important to remember that information not only arouses curiosity but can also trigger various emotions. Indeed, information can be beneficial when we consume it, but it does not rule out the possibility that information can be contradictory and produce undesired results—even deceiving ourselves in making decisions.

As individuals of Dian Nusantara University (UNDIRA) who are visionary, integrity-driven, and professional—we should be able to manage ourselves in daily life, including learning. Knowledge is a useful investment, but it is up to all of us to make sure that what we learn can benefit ourselves and those around us.