Master Gardner of Your Soul

Dan Miller —  October 16, 2012 — 2 Comments

Our minds are like gardens; they grow whatever we allow to take root.

“Just as a gardener cultivates his plot, keeping it free from weeds, and growing the flowers and fruits, which he requires, so may a man tend the garden of his mind, weeding out all the wrong, useless, and impure thoughts, and cultivating toward perfection the flowers and fruits of right, useful, and pure thoughts.  By pursuing this process, a man sooner or later discovers that he is the master gardener of his soul, the director of his life.  He also reveals, within himself, the laws of thought, and understands, with ever-increasing accuracy, how the thought-forces and mind-garden
elements operate in the shaping of his character, circumstances, and destiny.”  From “As a Man Thinketh” by James Allen (free copy here – As a Man Thinketh)

In walking through shopping areas, business lobbies, and visiting in people’s homes I am appalled at how commonly there is a TV running in the background.  Especially right now with all the political rancor I wonder if people understand the impact of that negative dialogue.  If our mind is like a garden, what seeds are being sown with constant criticism, angry outbursts, stories of rape, murder and terror being the ongoing input?

Control your own destiny by controlling what goes into your mind.  The books you read, the thoughts you think, the TV you watch, the conversations you participate in, the people you associate with, and the music you listen to combine to create your future.  Are you sowing the seeds for the life you want five years from now?

In Personal Development, Wisdom meets Passion , ,
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  • http://seekoutwisdom.blogspot.com Joseph Iliff of SeekOutWisdom

    Dan, I fully agree with you on this. I try to always have something encouraging and educational nearby to read, watch, or listen to for those moments when I might otherwise tune into something I’d later wish I hadn’t. Even when I choose something less serious and more fun, I still look for something with some redeeming value. And, I try to construct my environment where I can limit my exposure to unwelcome influences. I can close my office door if the building is too noisy, etc. Great advice.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joel.boggess.9 Joel Boggess

    What a powerful reminder Dan. Thank you.

    Your illustration bring to mind another story. Let’s say you walk out into the backyard and pluck an apple off the tree. You take a bite and quickly realize that on the insidie it is dry, withered, and produces a very bitter taste.

    While many people (with the best of intentions) will try to doctor and minister to the current crop to see if it can be saved, changed, or fixed, an experienced grower will focus her attention on where the actual problem is – not in the fruit, but in the root.

    So often people (still with the best of intentions) put their entire focus and energy toward to goal of “getting a new job”. And, as needed as that may be, they shortcut or skip the personal growth processes that are key to the success of your Eagle’s Club clients, thinking that harmony will replace chaos with a quick change in occupations.

    The unseen (roots) is always more powerful than what is seen (the job) and the invisible (beliefs, self-awareness, values) produces the visible.