When we consider the term “hearing voices,” we usually think of auditory hallucinations, schizophrenia, or psychosis. However, we all hear voices — not hallucinations but rather real people in real conversation, or real words on a written page.
Throughout the day, we are constantly bombarded with messages that impact the way we think, work, and play.
In his book, Good to Great in God’s Eyes, Chip Ingram shared information from a twelve year study by University of Tennessee professor Dr. Jack Haskins. In that study, Dr. Haskins found that, after being exposed to negativity for only 5 minutes per day, people exhibited the following characteristics:
1) They were more depressed than before
2) They believed the world was a negative place
3) They were less likely to help others
4) They began to believe what they heard would soon happen to them
The concept of GIGO comes to mind: “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” Whatever you allow to be put into your mind will be processed and will affect how you live. Fill your head with garbage, and your actions will be equally undesirable.
For some reason, it seems we are drawn to negativity. Garbage is often a hefty part of our diet. But if you want to live a life of Irrefutable Success, it is critical that you focus on things that are good.
Wouldn’t it be much better to think of GIGO as “Great In, Great Out?”
In The Message, the writer paraphrases Philippians 4:8 as follows: “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”
There are two ways information enters our minds:
1) Intentional: We read or listen to something on purpose
2) Inadvertent: We allow ourselves to be in an environment where we are exposed to something
Either way, the thoughts and ideas we surround ourselves with enter our minds and influence the way we live. I encourage you to pay close attention to your environment, as well as what you intentionally allow to enter into your mind.
Whatever goes in there will be manifest in your life. Let it be greatness, not garbage.
Think about it.
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Tags: Influence, Listening, Negativity
Tim, Thanks for the post. I think you could add one more way that information enters our mind. #3 — The fiery darts of the enemy. (Eph 6:16) For they come from no discernible place, when they are least expected, not determined from our environment, who we are with, what we may be reading, what we are talking about. For our thoughts are the only way the enemy has ability to influence us, for we cannot be harmed for we are His, but we can be buffeted by the thoughts that we allow to influence our actions that come only from the strong one.
I totally agree Larry.
I really enjoyed this installment. Hard to keep positive in the world we live in today-this is a good reminder to stay focused on the good and most importantly on God.
Thanks Michael! You are right about it being hard to keep positive… but it’s certainly worth the effort.