It’s axiomatic that television is “bad for you.” No one really even questions whether or not watching TV is a generally unhealthy activity, but like drinking coffee, we all think about it in terms of “every vice is acceptable in moderation.” While I’m definitely in agreement that moderation is crucial to a healthy relationship with television, the underlying assumption that it is, at its core, a psychically unhealthy activity to engage in doesn’t fly with me.

Television is contemporary theater. And there’s a lot of it! So of course using sharp discernment about what television to watch is important. I’m delighted beyond measure to see that television that is about emotional uplift, such as the new Lifetime Television show How to Look Good Naked, a show that takes a woman each week from loathing her body to loving her body, is gaining popularity and momentum.

I strongly believe that the best way to adopt a new habit is to surround yourself with people who have the habit you want. Whether it’s eating well, exercising regularly, or viewing yourself as a powerful, beautiful, and attractive person (which of course are just habitual ways of thinking about yourself!), spending time with people who are already doing what you want to do is a great way to keep motivated, learn the tricks and mental shortcuts for staying with it, and keep inspired while you’re transitioning from one way of being into another.

What does this have to do with television? Think about the people you watch on TV regularly as your peer group. Granted, it’s a rather one-sided relationship, but from your end, who cares? Now think about who you’re really spending your leisure time with. Are you hanging out with teenage prostitutes? Egomaniacs? Screaming bitchy queens? What are your relationship models like? Are the people you’re watching and spending time with warm to each other, loving, communicative, playful, compassionate? Are they even functional?

What are you learning from your television? Television is a marvelous vehicle for self-exploration and skill acquisition. You can learn to cook, explore the Earth and cosmos, learn skills for everything from making money in real estate by flipping property to building a wardrobe that expresses who you want to be in the world (can I just say that I’m the biggest fan of What Not to Wear, ever? This show is the one that got me paying attention to the whole idea of uplifting television).

Ultimately, what you’re watching should be a reflection of who you see yourself as being in the world. If you’re not thinking about all of your television as edutainment, as a source of inspiration, perhaps it’s time to consider a 30-day trial of uplifting TV.

Here’s a list of a few programs that I love to learn from and be inspired by:

• TLC’s What Not to Wear
• BBC America’s How Clean is Your House?
• BBC America’s You Are What You Eat
• Food Network’s Nigella Express
• Science Channel’s (rerun of) Carl Sagan’s Cosmos
• Lifetime’s How to Look Good Naked

What are some of your favorites? Who are you learning from? Who are you spending your time with?