What occupies your mind? Through what process did your controlling thoughts develop?
Several years ago while principal of an elementary school, a parent accosted me in front of my office. This parent normally supported the school so I wondered what horrible thing had occurred. I asked her to explain her concern. Her son’s teacher had shown a movie to which she objected. I reminded her the movie had a G rating. That did not appease her. I listened. The issue boiled down to a single scene inside a bar. Even these many years later, I remember her exact words to me. “Garbage in; garbage out.”
It makes no difference if I agreed with her objection to the movie. I respected her concern for protecting the mind of her impressionable son. She and her husband desired to be the ones who expose their son to the world beyond their control. Preparing his mind for that exposure at an age when they could help him process the information in a mentally healthy manner was their goal. An admirable goal.
Garbage in; garbage out. This statement has echoed in my mind over the years. Today, I use it to monitor the contents of my thought life. I ask, “What have I been feeding my mind lately?” Have I focused on negative, sad, frustrating, unhappy matter?
At this point, you may be saying that is the world we inhabit. Negativity fills our social media feeds, news, organizations, gossip, and our relationships. We gravitate toward the juicy tidbits because of three reasons. Either we want to be in control, they make us feel like we aren’t so bad after all, or adversities verify our dark moods.
During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, many of our dark thoughts focus on adversity.
So how should we respond? My solution is focusing my thoughts on what is right in my environment through meditating on this verse.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
Each day I set my goal to focus on one topic listed in this verse. Do I succeed in my effort? Somewhat. At least this endeavor turns my focus from entertaining counter-productive thoughts to having hope. Here are the areas in which I have struggled.
Loss of income
Possibility of becoming seriously ill
Lack of social contact
Lack of recreation
What areas of negativity have been hardest for you to control? If you have found a way to lessen their impact, please share. Sharing realistic ideas about how to turn negatives into positives can help us navigate trials.