A recent tweet said:
“An entire sea of water can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside. Similarly, the negativity of the world can’t put you down, unless you allow it inside your heart and mind.” ~ A. Nonymous
This makes a lot of sense. To believe we don’t live in a world filled with negativity would be to delude ourselves.
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Of course, there’s also much positivity but there’s a difference:
When you drink a glass of clean, pure water it sustains you, but it doesn’t generally cause a feeling one way or the other. We simply accept it—often unconsciously—for what it is.
However, put just a little bit of poison in that water and the consequences are profound.
Fifteen nice, decent people might not have much of an effect on your day. After all, people are supposed to be nice and decent. We simply accept it.
However, what happens when one miserable, insulting creep crosses your path? One’s entire day can change for the (much) worse…
That is, IF we let that negativity get inside us.
Two ways to keep it from sinking our ship:
- Choose not to take it personally. This takes a lot of work on an ongoing, consistent basis. For an excellent guide in this regard, read Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements.
- Surround yourself with positive. Read, watch, and listen to good, positive, uplifting materials on an ongoing, consistent basis. And, hang out with good, positive, uplifting people as much as you can.
A ship fortified to that degree simply cannot be sunk.
What are some of the ways you protect the ship that is your mind?
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