Every day, every moment, we are bombarded with a tsunami of impressions and potential inputs into our consciousness. What we choose, and we DO have a choice, what to focus on, to dwell on versus to ‘catch and release’ has a powerful effect on our emotions, our world view, our personality; indeed the very quality of our days and ultimately our lives.
We all need a good ‘doorman’, a mental construct to stand guard over the entrance to our mind. Just as your body is healthier when you eat nutritious fare and turn away from junk food, so too is your mind and spirit stronger and more vibrant when you keep your attention on things of virtue, merit, excellence, value, quality, and goodness. You would not let uninvited strangers wander around your home and bedroom through an unlocked front door, so treat your mind with the same respect. While at times it can be challenging to control the thoughts that come to mind (though with time and practice, you can get better), you do have the power to re-direct your thoughts and thus control what thoughts stay in mind.
Closing Thoughts:
“Thoughts held in mind attract in kind; what you focus on expands.” – Truism
“Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought, for the human spirit is colored by such impressions.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.16
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.” – Philippians 4:8, King James Version
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier