In my garden out back of our house, I planted tomato, pepper, and squash plants this spring. I did not plant only a single seed of each, but many seeds of each type. What would you think of me if I say I am disappointed today that I have no apple trees, cactus plants, or strawberries growing? Would you think me foolish? What if I went further to say that I am frustrated that so many tomato, pepper, and squash plants are growing? Surely then you’d think me strange, right?
What Are You Growing
While we might think this sort of behavior foolish, we tend quite often to act this way when it comes to what we plant in ourselves. We desire to have good things happen to us, to have a life full or rich relationships and success, but how can these things grow if they haven’t been planted? Take this past week for example: how much time did you spend around positive, excited winners? Did you learn things directly from leaders or mentors of yours by listening to their wisdom as they poured their experience into you? If not, how can you expect the plants of success to grow? There are no seeds to even start with!
Conversely, how much time in the past week have you spent letting negative messages pour into your head? Have you listened to others around you complain about things they don’t like or blame others for the situations they find themselves in? Have you spent many hours letting the TV be your teacher? Are the shows than you watch filled with positive messages of overcoming difficulty through persistence and teamwork, or are they overly-sexualized sitcoms that display selfishness, destruction, or belittling others. If the latter, what do you think these seeds will grow into within the garden of your mind?
Understand the Connections
Our lives are in much more of our own control than we often realize. Wise men make the connection between what’s poured into the mind today and the situations we find ourselves in tomorrow. Will you take the step of intentionally pouring in an shielding yourself from the bad? Put distance between yourself and the habits of the masses, and watch your life of success grow and flourish!