Are you protecting your mind? Your mind is one of your most important assets. My question to you is are you treating it that way? Do you fill your mind daily with good thoughts and decrease the negative thoughts? If you are unsure, then the answer is no. You have to plan for positive thoughts to come in and you have to plan to keep negative thoughts out. It won’t happen on its own. You need to control the information and plan for the good stuff!

Daily your mind is inundated with information. The key question is what role are you playing in the information your mind processes? Daily, you need to be conscious of the positive and negative influences. As a parent, I also believe it is your role to monitor the information going into your child’s brain. Often, parents will say to me, I only allow my child to watch “X” amount of hours of TV a day or a week. My response is super! Yet, when I ask the parents about their habits, the reality is they didn’t think about themselves so much. They assume that the adult brain is so much smarter and that it doesn’t affect them. I disagree. I believe it affects adults just as much. As a spouse, friend, and coworker, we share that information with others maybe even more than kids do, so we might do more damage to ourselves and others!

You mind determines your attitude, your relationships and ultimately, your happiness and success. Therefore, I believe it’s important to protect it.

Here are some practical ways I protect my mind daily.

• I read all of my news on my iPhone. It allows me to get the top headlines and stay informed, without having to hear the hype and commentary of the newscasters.
• I limit my “TV” time. I do watch some TV, but I am selective on what I’m viewing, how much and when.
• I subscribe to a variety of leadership newsletters such as John Maxwell and Seeds of SUCCESS. I have a rule set up in my Outlook, so all of my leadership newsletters go to a folder for easy viewing.
• I have positive quotes taped around my office.
• I have “Angel Cards” (sold at TN events) in my office and at my home for reading at a quick glance.
• I have pictures drawn by my daughter at my home and in my office to inspire me and remind me of her.
• I don’t involve myself in gossip.
• I think positively and see the glass as half full.
• I surround myself with people that are positive, uplifting and encouraging.
• I limit my time with people that are negative or as John Maxwell says, “people that are life and/or energy drainers”.
• I say daily prayers.
• Everyday I tell my daughter, “It’s going to be a great day” even when I don’t feel like it!
• I read my bible.
• I end the day with a positive book or thought. I don’t go to bed reading anything negative or watching anything negative.

These are some of the ways I protect my mind. I welcome your thoughts and ideas on how you are effectively doing this as well! Share them here.

God Bless,
Angela