Not every piece of information is wisdom. Not every thought in your mind is yours.

Are You Sure They Are Your Feelings? : Arundhati Roy

Imagine waking up and instantly checking your phone, scrolling through an avalanche of news, opinions, and updates. Before you even sip your coffee, you’ve absorbed more information than your ancestors did in a week. But here’s the question: are these thoughts and emotions truly yours, or have they been shaped by the overwhelming flood of content you consume daily?

In 2022, at SLU Libraries, acclaimed author and activist Arundhati Roy spoke about the overabundance of information and how it affects our perception of reality. We’re living in an age where we mistake access for understanding and noise for wisdom. This article delves into how excessive information is reshaping our minds, replacing original thought with borrowed narratives, and how we can reclaim the ability to think deeply and meaningfully.


The world has never been more connected, and yet, paradoxically, wisdom feels more distant. We assume that consuming more data equates to knowing more, but in reality, an overload of scattered information prevents us from forming meaningful insights. The human mind wasn’t built to process an endless stream of updates, notifications, and headlines. Instead of knowledge, we are accumulating fragmented thoughts, opinions, and half-truths, leaving us mentally exhausted rather than enlightened.


We like to believe that we form our own opinions, but in a world where algorithms curate what we see, our thoughts are often pre-shaped before we even engage with them. Social media doesn’t just offer content; it subtly guides our perceptions by reinforcing biases and dictating relevance. This constant exposure to pre-packaged viewpoints blurs the line between independent thinking and passive absorption. The more we consume, the less time we have to reflect, leading to a world of reaction rather than contemplation.

Have you ever felt deeply affected by an event, only to later realize it had little to do with your actual life? That’s the emotional manipulation of excessive information. News cycles dictate our emotions, social media trends manufacture urgency, and viral outrage compels us to feel things we might not have otherwise considered. While empathy is valuable, drowning in borrowed emotions can disconnect us from our authentic selves. The challenge is distinguishing between what truly matters to us and what is merely an emotional echo of the digital world.

Our brains, much like computers, have limited processing power. The more data we take in, the less space we have for deep thought and creative insight. With endless distractions, our mental energy is spent sorting through irrelevant noise rather than nurturing meaningful ideas. Decision fatigue sets in, making it harder to focus on what truly enriches our lives. In this crowded mental landscape, silence becomes a rare commodity, and with it, the ability to think clearly and originally.

In an era of instant answers and short attention spans, the patience for deep thinking is fading. We no longer ponder—we Google. We don’t sit with questions—we scroll for solutions. But great ideas, profound realizations, and meaningful insights don’t come from speed; they come from stillness. If we don’t allow ourselves the space to engage in deep thought, we risk becoming merely consumers of knowledge rather than creators of wisdom.


There’s an unspoken pressure to keep up with everything—news, trends, discussions—just to remain relevant. The fear of missing out (FOMO) drives us to consume more than we can process, leading to an endless cycle of superficial engagement. But what if we accepted that we don’t need to know everything? What if instead of chasing every piece of information, we chose to focus only on what truly adds value to our lives?

The world won’t stop producing information, but we can control how much of it we let in. Here’s how:

• Be selective about what you consume: Not all information is valuable. Choose quality over quantity.
• Create digital boundaries: Limit screen time and social media exposure to protect your mental clarity.
• Prioritize deep reading: Skimming headlines isn’t learning. Invest time in well-researched, thoughtful content.
• Embrace real-world experiences: Step away from the digital noise and engage with life offline.
• Make space for stillness: Allow your mind the quiet it needs to process, reflect, and generate original thoughts.

Arundhati Roy’s words remind us that just because information is available doesn’t mean it’s valuable. We live in an age of excess, where the real challenge isn’t access but discernment. True wisdom lies not in knowing everything, but in knowing what to ignore.

So the next time you feel the pull of endless scrolling, ask yourself: Is this truly my thought, or am I just borrowing it?