“A man's mind may be likened to a garden, which may be
intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or
neglected, it must, and will, bring forth.”
***
Ah, Springtime! It’s a
time of growth, new beginnings! Spring allows one to engage in an annual
“labor of love,” gardening! The fruits of one’s labor will ultimately
depend upon the seeds planted and how well one cares for their
garden.
Just like a home garden, where plants, flowers, and vegetables grow, your mind
is a garden too. There is only one master gardener of your mind, and it’s
you! Therefore, you must be diligent about the seeds you plant and how
you care for your mind garden. Seeds are thoughts, so be careful what you
sow. The law of the harvest counsels “You reap what you sow.” If you
sow negative thoughts, you’ll harvest negativity. Conversely, positive
thoughts will reap a positive harvest.
Best gardening tip: If you really want a
bountiful garden, spend some time with the ultimate Master Gardener, The Good
Lord. He knows a thing or two about creation and abundance!
As gardeners, we choose the
seeds we plant, be them good or bad. Good seeds have the potential to
produce a bountiful harvest. Hence, we must be vigilant of the outside
influences that can wreak havoc in our garden. A home garden is
susceptible to the weather, insects and animals, and weeds. Like a home
garden, the garden of our mind is vulnerable to outside influences too.
Friends and family members, often unintentionally, can wreak havoc in our mind
garden. Society and popular culture can have a way of choking off good
seeds that have been planted. Alcohol and drugs can poison a garden;
killing growth and rendering it barren.
So how does
one cultivate a bountiful mind garden? Foremost, good seeds (thoughts)
must be planted. With good seeds planted, the gardener must be aware of
any negative influence (family and friends; society and popular culture; and
drugs and alcohol) and eradicate it as soon as possible. Besides protecting
a garden from negative influences, a garden needs to be nurtured. Tending
to a home garden requires work, such as watering, fertilizing and
cultivating. A mind garden requires nurturing too. It’s called
“Personal Development,” or commonly referred to as “self-development,” or
“self-help.” A master gardener must be willing to do the work entailed in
personal development. According to Myrko Thum, “Personal Development is
the conscious pursuit of personal growth by expanding self-awareness and knowledge
and improving personal skills.
So there you have it!
A master mind gardener must think positive thoughts, surround themselves with
positive people, read books and literature or attend seminars/trainings that focus
on personal development, and seek guidance/counsel from those who actively
engage in personal development practices. In simplistic terms, personal
development is consciously working on becoming a better you. Carl
Jung once said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious it will direct your
life and you will call it fate.” Don’t take a chance and let fate destroy
your garden. I encourage you to be conscious of the seeds you sow and
take active measures to tend to your garden; for it you do, your harvest will
be plenty!
It’s your life: live it, love it & celebrate
MJD
MJD
