Your Mind

                                                                                                

Have you ever been told "You need to have an open mind!"? Oftentimes, the person telling you this is trying to get you to accept something questionable or dubious. Not many people want to be accused as having a closed mind. Instead of telling you to have an open mind, I encourage you to have a guarded mind. Having a guarded mind does not mean you have a closed mind; it simply means you are careful about what kind of thoughts and beliefs take root in your mind.

These guys remotely resemble Marines.

Think about a city with high walls and formidable gates with armed guards out front. The guards' purpose is to let the legitimate people inside the city to conduct their business and live their lives; but they also keep the riff-raff out. The guards may have to question people to determine if their intentions are good or evil. Likewise I would encourage you to challenge ideas or thoughts entreating entrance into your mind.
As a Christian, I weigh everything against the Word of God. If the idea, thought, philosophy or way of life contradicts the Bible, the Bible wins the battlefield of my mind. I will guard my mind against those things that are contrary to God's Word.
In addition to guarding your mind, do not put yourself in circumstances where your defenses can be easily overrun. As the saying goes "Garbage in, garbage out." One version of the Bible (Common English Bible, 2011) tells the reader in Proverbs 4:23 "More than anything you guard, protect your mind, for life flows from it." Don't get bamboozled into doing, saying or believing things just because someone tells you to have an open mind. Tell them "My mind is open, but it's guarded." Take in the good, keep out the bad.
In addition to having an open, but guarded mind, be careful who you let speak into your life. Don't let people tell you what you can or cannot accomplish. Guard your mind against naysayers, critics and others who will try and tether you down when you're attempting to fly. Be open to constructive suggestions or good input, but to the people who are bent on cutting you down: shut them out! If you have a dream, live it! Don't let others tell you that you cannot. Do not let negativity gain a foothold in your mind. Go for the gold!

I Pulled an MBA All-Nighter!

10/17/13

I am done with my stupid mini-flu. Boy, that really took a lot out of me; made me weak as a kitten and brought me low. I went from Powerful McPowerfulson to zero energy, zero stamina. When you or I or anyone is sick, it's easy to get down mentally as well as physically and I have to be honest in saying that I did get down psychologically. I did realize, however, it would pass and when I recovered, I would have to rebuild to the level of power and stamina that I held for most of the summer.

During my business financial management class from mid-October to mid-November, I routinely pulled all-nighters on assignments because late at night and in the wee hours of the morning was the only time I could get into deep, focus, concentration mode which I would need to figure out complex financial formulas and have an understanding of how aspects of finance functioned.

All-nighters are not fun, but sometimes they are necessary to get the job done. I am highly motivated in regards to getting my Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) because it is going to be a big step in my career and my ticket to an even better life. What if I mess up in a class and fail or get a crumby grade? I can always retake a class if I need to. It IS a setback, but not the end of the world. Life isn't perfect and most people don't always get the grades they want. So many people seem to have an all or nothing mentality; but much of life doesn't work like that. Sometimes you have to keep chipping at a project with, at times, imperfect progress.

Please, readers: do not give up when you encounter great adversity, but on the other side of that coin, do not persist when your efforts are evidently futile. You may need to find a different way in doing something. If you know that you are intended to do a certain thing, yet you are sailing towards a storm on your way to do it; then sail right through the storm and accomplish that thing you are bound, set and intended to do. Be indomitable. When you are hit hard by the storms and trials of life and don't take the easy way out, you will come out the better for it. Your character will be built stronger for it.

And when you find that sweet, sweet solace when all is at peace, there is nothing important to do and you can relax; take the opportunity to rest on your laurels just briefly before going on to slay the next giant. If you stay lying on one spot for too long, you create an indentation or rut, rather and it make get you stuck in life. That is why I tell you to not rest on your laurels for too long. Keep learning, keep being driven, find new territory to conquer, but stop once in a while to rest.

Thank you all for reading my blog article today and I pray it inspires or helps you somehow. I hope you find peace and wisdom this Christmas season; remember, God owns peace and wisdom and He will give freely to those who truly seek him.

Any Questions?