Keeping the Junk OUT #RealLifeFilter

Garbage. Stinky, Disgusting Garbage.

Imagine a garbage can sitting outside of a McDonald’s restaurant on a hot, summer day. There’s sticky soda spilled down the side of the can. Flies are hovering over it. There’s wadded up paper wrappers, left over half eaten food, greasy napkins and random things that were thrown out of people’s cars. It smells so bad. You spot a carton with 1 cold, greasy french fry left in it. You pick it up… AND YOU EAT IT.

Ummmm… NO. No, you don’t. The sight and smell of the garbage can is repulsive. You quickly turn away from the stink and filth. You want NOTHING to do with it. None of that garbage will be TOUCHING you, thank you very much.

The Daily Garbage We Are Exposed To Is Just Like That Trash Can.

I have to start by saying there’s a whole LOT of good in the world. In fact, my optimistic self wants to believe that there’s more good, than bad. Maybe that’s true. Maybe not, but here’s the deal… there is “junk” happening all around us. From compromising images flashed all over media, to the (fake) news outlets, to crime rates, divorce, murder and just downright negativity, there is garbage happening. And I want no part of it.

Protect Your Eyes and Ears To Protect Your Mind. #RealLifeFilter

I’m not saying to stick your head in the sand. You have to be alert and aware of what’s happening around you, but you DON’T have to revel in it. You DON’T have to participate in it.

When I was a teenager, I used to watch scary movies with my friends, even though I hated every second of it. The images would haunt me for months. My mind would replay over and over what I had seen with my eyes and heard with my ears. I SO wish I could go back and tell my younger self “here’s the fix… don’t put that junk in your mind! Don’t flash that garbage before your eyes on purpose! Use a real life filter.”

I’ve taught my kids about those experiences and they understand that they are in control of what their mind will replay. If they don’t want garbage floating around in their brain, then protecting their eyes and ears is the answer.

I’ve also taught them my method for “resetting” (because there will be times when you catch or hear a glimpse of something you wish you hadn’t). You “reset” your mind by replacing the garbage thought with a positive thought. Then you think about that positive thought intentionally and intently, until your mind has flushed the negative thought away.

Toxic People.

We are the sum of our inner circle. Who are the 5 people you spend the most time with? Do they live the kind of life you want? Are they positive, genuinely happy, successful, growth minded people? Or are they negative, grouchy, gossips who hate their life and live for Friday night when they can numb out reality?

Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. Harsh? Maybe. Truth? Definitely. I’m all about truth, friend, so here it is… If you want to protect your mind, protect your eyes and ears. If you want to protect your dream life, then weed out the toxic people. Some people are drawn to the negative and if that’s how they want to spend their life, good for them. But not you, friend. You KNOW you were made for more. You were created to THRIVE, not just survive. Take a serious look at the 5 people who are most influencing your life and make some changes, if needed.

Fill Up On The Good Stuff and Watch Your Life Change.

What we focus on is what we will create more of in our life. So while keeping the garbage OUT is important, filling our mind and life with GOOD stuff is equally as important! For me, this looks like praying, reading the Bible and other personal development books, listening to podcasts and spending time learning from mentors. If you want to experience life change and genuine happiness, make small changes that will make a BIG difference. Turn off the TV and pick up a book by Og Mandino or John Maxwell or Les Brown or Dani Johnson. Keep the junk OUT, put the GOOD stuff in and watch your life change, my friend!

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Want some good stuff to fill your mind with? Grab the FREEBIE {10 Great Reads} for book recommendations that you’ll love!

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