Stop Wasting Your Mind And Grow Your Life

Stop Wasting Your Mind And Grow Your Life

“A mind is a terrible thing to waste” is a saying that most people are familiar with. So many people waste their minds on things that do not grow them; add value to their lives. It is wasted on mindless chatter, media that is not edifying, and simply what I would label “garbage”.

These people wonder why it is that they are not further ahead in their lives than they are. I remember when I was studying computer science several years ago, there was a term that was thrown around quite often. It was “Garbage In Garbage Out – GIGO”. Once we coded a program, the outcome was reflective of the coding that went in. If it was garbage coding that went in, then the outcome was garbage.

I work very hard at making sure that I use my mind for learning things that expand my world in a positive way. I am an avid reader of books (wasn’t always that way) and other literature that adds to my learning and growth. I intentionally choose to read books that keeps my mind positive. The more I do this the more I find my outlook on life to be positive. I am one of those who truly believes that “as a man thinks he becomes.”

So if I am going to become the kind of person that make a difference in this world, shape other peoples lives and leave a legacy for the generation to come, I must continue to take care of my mind and not waste it.

I wear a wrist band that says “Think 4:8”, which garners quite a bit of conversation as people inquire as to the meaning of the phrase. My immediate response is that it fits the work that I do as a psychotherapist; I help people with their thought life. I then proceed to tell them the source of the phrase … the words of the Apostle Paul as outlined below.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

From what I read, to not waste my mind or pollute it with negativity, requires me to fix my thoughts on what is:

• true
• honorable
• right
• pure
• lovely
• admirable
• excellent
• worthy of praise

Here is my question for you: How are you protecting your mind? What have you found to be most helpful? I would love to hear what works for you. Please take a few moments now and leave a comment in the box below so we can all learn from each other.