Recently, I was at the gas station filling up the SUV with gas. As I did so, I could not help but notice the woman with her car just next to mine. She had the pump discharging gas on its own while she worked to clean the trash out of her car.
Now, this scene was not that unique. I just did the same thing. However, her experience was much different than mine. I had one little handful of items to drop in the public trash bin. She was carrying an armload of trash—cups, fast food bags and boxes, and napkins. Again, probably not that unique of a thing for me to see.
However, she returned repeatedly to the car for more trash. Each time, she emerged with her arms completely full of garbage. I stopped counting at the sixteenth trip back to the car (and I am not even sure I saw the first few trips!). My tank was full and I was ready to be on my way. Yet, I could not stop thinking about what I had just observed.
I know it may be weird, but I could not stop thinking about this. I had questions I just could not answer. Questions like: How did her car get so full of trash? How could she stand it? How long had her car been this way? To allow one’s car to be so full of trash just astounded me.
As I reflected on this, I could not help but think of the many people I work with each day in my counseling office or in coaching sessions. I also saw the faces of the large groups of people I speak to about healthy living and healthy thinking. All too often, the people I meet find themselves in this same situation—only it is not their car that is accumulating junk. It is their minds.
The mind is an incredible thing. What goes into our mind impacts all that we feel and do! As a professional whose workshop is the mind of those who seek me out, I witness the impact of thinking on the brain and behavior of people every day. I am convinced that our thoughts have more impact on our lives than any of us can possibly imagine.
So, when is the last time you conducted an evaluation of what you allow into your mind? Is it time to conduct a fearless inventory of what is flowing into your brain?
If you have not taken the time to really examine what you put into your head, it is probably time to do so. It might just be time for some cleaning!
In this world, we are constantly reminded to be mindful of what we consume and what we put into our mouths. We are warned against unhealthy diets, consuming too many calories, and doing harm to our bodies with bad eating habits. Should we not do the same with our minds? In so many ways, what we put into our minds is actually more harmful than what we put into our mouths.
So, are you ready to get going? Here are 4 suggestions to help you determine if your mind needs some cleaning out and ideas on how to make that happen:
- Take a news media holiday—We are abundant consumers of news reports through a plethora of sources, and, frankly, most of what we hear is negative and discouraging. This has a profound impact on our thinking and on our lives. If you are a so-called “news junkie,” you may be being impacted more than you believe by the in-flow of negative news media.
Try going for 30 days without any news media. Replace your news for 30 days with music, uplifting listening, or even silence. Observe what happens. Pay close attention to how you feel. You may be surprised at what too much news is doing to you.
- Fill your mind with positive right before bed—The human mind is working 24 hours a day. In our rush-to-this-or-that world, we are expected to be on the go all the time. Most of those I work with have difficulty sleeping because of worry and hurry. If you are struggling to fall asleep or with getting restful sleep, you may need to do some cleaning.
I suggest you try watching what you put in your mind right before bed. Turn off the TV, unplug from the internet, stash the smartphone, and learn to calm the mind before bed. Do something positive before bed. Read an uplifting bedtime story. It works for our children. Try it.
- Ditch the violent and graphic material in your life—It seems that whatever source we turn to for entertainment, contains graphic portrayals of violence and cruelty. This has no small impact on the mind and the mood. If you are a regular consumer of TV, movies, and video games, then you are probably being exposed to an incredible amount of violence and graphic content.
To be sure, this is affecting how you think and ultimately how you live. Consider taking a break from any violent shows. If you cannot go for a night without your favorite crime, vampire, zombie, medieval warfare, or occult show, you probably need to do some mind-cleaning. Try going for a week or more. A regular diet of this kind of media is significant in its effects.
To the professional (like myself), the mind sees no difference between real and our current computer-enhanced depictions. You may just need to cut back or cut out violent and graphic content. Experiment with it and notice what happens.
- Embrace silence and meditation—Can you sit for 5 minutes and not do anything? Does your mind go to a relaxed and peaceful state? Or, do you find yourself filled with worries, things to do, and stresses to manage? Are you addicted to productivity so much that your mind cannot just be still? If the answer to any of these was “yes,” you may need to do some cleaning.
Start with 5 minutes. Focus on your breathing. Just listen and observe your thinking. Try to stay calm and clear. Embrace quiet time to ponder and mediate. If you cannot go for 5 minutes without feeling stressed and uncomfortable, you probably need to clear out your head a bit.
Is your mind full of clutter? Don’t let it become like some of our cars! Do some cleaning! Never let your mind become the dumping ground for garbage—yours or anyone else’s! Take the time to fill your mind with good and positive things and you will find greater joy in living. Let’s get going!
