What Flows In, Also Flows Out
We may think our thoughts and feelings originate from within. But do they really? It used to be in order to learn something new or to hear about something we had to go to the town hall meeting. We had to run into the person who everyone knows can’t keep anything to themselves. We used to have to drive to the library to learn about a new subject or turn on the radio. As slow and probably frustrating as this was it did have its benefits. Our minds could mull over information at a slower rate. We could contemplate what it means to us or to the world. Kids had it even easier. They didn’t have cell phones in their pockets chiming constantly telling them of the next non-important alert. Instead they were out playing for hours and only heard of the news at dinner around the table.
Nowadays our brains are basically being force fed so much throughout the day that they are overloaded. Could this be why we feel anxious, irritated, tired, overwhelmed, or angry? We drive down the road to our job or next activity and see the hundreds if not thousands of signs, ads, billboards and businesses. Then we turn on the radio and hear more ads than songs to fill the already full space. We text a friend when we are bored, we turn on the tv so we don’t feel alone in the house, we scroll social media for hours, or we put in our earbuds when we go jogging. Being alone with our thoughts is not only a lost art it has become something that is almost avoided at all cost. What are we afraid we might find?
Because of the constant bombarding of outside influences when we do get the chance to be alone with our thoughts, what we are thinking and feeling probably is still residual from what we were intaking over the last several days. The comment our coworker said that was more of a slam than not. The tv show we watched and connected with so much that we started imitating the attitudes and emotions of the characters. The gory movie, the violent video game, the trashy soap opera, the disrespectful songs? When you go to bed right after that kind of input you can’t wonder why you have a hard time sleeping or why you just feel irritated when you wake up. You may find you feel justified when you snap at your spouse for their incompetence, and why would they feel hurt instead of just brushing it off? That’s what they do in the TV shows.
Remember the times after a good sermon, a good song, or a good talk with a friend, we feel elated, forward thinking and able to climb any mountain? The power of influence is a lot stronger than we may think or even give it credit. When you start to get in tune with yourself and really pay attention to your thoughts, feelings and overall wellbeing, look at what you were doing and who you were around beforehand. You may be surprised at the patterns that emerge. As hard as it may be to switch our input to better influences or better yet turning it off completely, it’s a necessary step if you want to see real change in your life.
Once we start to monitor and limit the inputs we can control, we can take it a step further. Start to put in only the good. Whether you believe in the Bible or not, the quote “As the thoughts flow so does the tongue” rings true. We can choose to only watch uplifting and value-based videos. We can read self-healing and self-growth books. Learn how to improve our health, finances, relationships and spiritual lives. When we are not putting in good sources we can reflect on what’s already inside our minds through silence. When you do it will feel very weird and you may be uncomfortable with the silence.
Things may come up from years earlier that have successfully been stifled. Instead of shying away from those thoughts and feelings learn to embrace it. Nothing truly gets better until it is dealt with. Avoiding a sliver may work for a while and the wound may close up, but it is still festering underneath the skin. Dealing with the sliver and going through the pain of digging it out and cleaning the wound, will ensure you heal faster and completely. Yes a scar may be left but that in time will begin to fade as well. Being with your own thoughts through prayer, reflection, journaling or meditation is the one thing that can truly bring peace and healing. And doesn’t that sound refreshing? Let’s start today on the intentional inflow and outflow of influences. It’s worth the effort.