Recently I decided to take a fast from the media. No reading the local newspaper, no talk radio, no CNN or Fox News. I’m normally a “let’s make some sweet lemonade” kind of girl, but lately after reading, listening to and watching all the “junk” I found myself wanting to throw some lemons. And a lot of them! I’ve personally found myself anxious, slightly depressed, negative, and easily grumpy. Ugh.
How about you? What are the things you’re letting saturate your mind these days?
Fear of COVID? Polarizing political battles? Staggering murder rates? Rising unemployment stats? Divisive posts on social media?
Bombarded, Bamboozled and Bulldozed
From the gobs subliminal messages, we receive every day via billboards and TV ads to the shocking sensationalism broadcasted on the airwaves- we are bombarded, bamboozled, and bulldozered with garbage.
Think about this: we’re fed a media diet filled with shocking sensational news that is broadcasted on hundreds of channels 24 hours a day seven days a week! Headline after headline about hate, divisiveness, anger, rage and, on the flip side, virtually nothing positive…a truly perverted view of reality!
Now consider all of the wonderful and positive things we could be filing our minds with in those same 24 hours:
- Sunrises and sunsets
- Birds
- Sounds of laughter
- Flowers
- Rainbows
- Births
- Celebrations
- Smiles
- Acts of kindness
- Giving out of an abundance
Friend, you and I have got to be vigilant about not allowing our brains to absorb irrelevant, destructive, infectious, and counterproductive junk.
Dirty Water
Author Darren Hardy says, “Our mind is like an empty glass – it will hold anything we put into it.” We get to choose what we put into it. The big question is: will it be dirty or clean water that we pour into it?
What we fill our minds with will drive our thoughts.
The funny thing about our brain. Its job isn’t to make us smarter — it’s to protect us. When we see or listen to a newsfeed that’s filled with doom and gloom like murder, riots, destruction, and finger-pointing politics our brain goes into survival mode. We begin to worry, become negative, have a critical spirit, hate, and a whole bunch of other things that just aren’t good for us! We just filled our glass (mind) with dirty water!
Clean Water
So what are some ways we can purify our mind and replace the scum and dirt with good ole clean,clear, and good-for-you water?
How about:
- Filling your mind with inspiration (songs, signs, affirmations, etc)
- Strategizing what will move the needle forward in your relationships and in your business
- Assessing your friendships. Are they edifying to you? Any sandpaper people you need to cut ties with?
- Adopting a spirit of abundance
- Creating an on-the-go classroom by listening to personal development podcasts/TED talks while driving
- Opting for wholesome TV shows
- Reading books simply for enjoyment
- Receiving and giving encouragement
- Listening to music that brings you peace
- Committing to your dreams
- Letting go of grudges
- Being grateful
Choosing how you fill your glass doesn’t mean you bury your head in the sand and only think of butterflies, rainbows, and unicorns. Nope. Not one bit.
What it does mean is that YOU get to choose what you WILL and WILL NOT allow inside your head. Period.
Friend, let’s vow to get mentally tough, to strengthen our mind, and opt for health and happiness instead of heartburn, heartache, and heart attack.
“As you think, so shall you become.” Bruce Lee
Love your blog about negative mindset
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and the encouraging words about it. xoxo