𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬: 𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – Helen Yahaya
It’s amusing how intangible things, called thoughts, can direct the words, actions, habits, and decisions of your life. In the serenity of my air-clear room, I sat studying for the week’s test with my best friend. She was absorbed in her device while I was studying.
“This country is messed up!” “As in, what nonsense now!” “Hisses!” were the words that proceeded out of her mouth as she scrolled through her phone. She tried to show me and tell me what was happening (that is from her phone), but I told her I was not interested.
After about twenty minutes, she said to me, “Helen, why aren’t you saying anything about this? You do not care or what?” I responded, “I do not like to dwell on negativity. I do not even follow all these news online or blogs that only post negative things because I am very intentional about my thoughts.”
I continued, “I am well aware that what I focus on expands, and so if I focus on negative things, I know they will expand in my mind, which will affect my emotions. So, I’d rather dwell on the positive so I can remain enthusiastic.” When I was done, she kept quiet.
Well, I am not here to discuss what made her say those words or why it became such a load on her mind. I want to let you know that what you dwell on, either through what you see or what you hear, can affect you positively or negatively.
As a leader, it will take intentionality to make the decision not to consume content that will spoil the healthy pattern of your thoughts (that is if you know how powerful the thoughts of a man are) and discipline to remain committed to that decision.
Now, this is why I am here. Let us discuss how what you consume can affect your thoughts, which can ultimately affect you as a leader.
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞? By that, I mean what do you allow your eyes to see/watch and your ears to hear/listen to? It may be on the media or the internet, and it may also be physically when you come in contact with people.
Are they healthy? By this, I mean, do they edify you mentally and spiritually? Do they keep you enthusiastic and confident about yourself? Or are they unhealthy? Meaning they demean you and take away your peace and joy. They make your thoughts go haywire, and before you know it, you are sad or depressed.
Ponder.
What do you allow your eyes and ears to consume, dear leader? It is not everything on the internet or everyone you meet that you should watch or that you should listen to.
You are a leader, and that is not what a leader should do. What you consume affects your thoughts. And because thoughts are things, you have to be very careful with your thought patterns. If you consume positive, your thoughts will be possible, which will alter other aspects of your life for the better.
𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫?I kid you not; number four will amaze you!
𝟏. 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 (𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 (𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞).
This is very important. Decision is where it starts from. Decide that you will only listen to and watch people who inspire, motivate, and encourage you. People who challenge you to become the best of yourself.
Not blogs that only bring bad news and reports or gossip blogs that only talk about people in bad ways. No! This is to the little detail of even the songs or messages you listen to. Pick the right ones deliberately and decide to stick with them.
Coming to the offline part, mind your association and who you allow to speak with and to you. Because, in case no one has told you or in case you have not gotten it, get it clear now that, “Words are powerful!” Take caution. Do this and watch how the pattern of your thinking changes for the better.
𝟐. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧.
Yes! This is the part where you take action. Go to your social media and unfollow those who you know aren’t helping you spiritually, mentally, and emotionally, especially in your thought patterns.
Anytime you are on any of these social streets, and you ‘coincidentally’ come across negative content, ‘deliberately’ scroll up or walk past, okay? You are doing this for your health and well-being.
𝟑. 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞.
We are humans, and it is normal for your flesh to love comfort, luxury, and enjoyment. I get it. But if you allow your body to rule you, you are heading for destruction. The truth and nothing but the truth, I tell you. A great man quoted, “TV is chewing gum for the eyes.” Do you know what that means? 😂😂😂 Everything watchable is what gives the eyes pleasure. Everything hearable is what gives the ears pleasure.
Now, after deciding on what you will watch and listen to, you have to embrace discipline, hold discipline tightly with your two hands to be able to put your body under. This is also self-control.
𝟒. 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬.
Yah, I know you may be wondering how studying gets to be a part of how you mind what you consume 😅 It is. It really is part of it. Now, when you read and study a lot, you cultivate a habit unknowingly. A good habit for that matter.
When you do this, you make your eyes and ears want more of that kind of content. So anytime you get on those social streets, you begin to hunt for such kinds of content that you have consumed while studying. I do not know about you, but it has happened to me several times.
I read a book by James Allen or Dr. Mike Murdock, or Dr. Myles Munroe, or George Clarkson, and I find that when I come online, I search for visual contents of what I had read and studied. If you haven’t experienced this. Try reading and studying really great books for three months nonstop. You will find yourself doing that when you come online. This will alter the pattern of your thoughts for the best.
In conclusion, the power of thought is a force that shapes our lives, and as leaders, the responsibility to cultivate positive thought patterns is paramount. By carefully choosing what we consume, both online and offline, we have the ability to influence our thoughts and, consequently, our actions.
Remember, as a leader, your thoughts are not just yours; they have a ripple effect on those you lead. So, make intentional decisions about what you allow into your mind. Choose positivity, surround yourself with inspiration, and embrace the discipline needed to navigate the digital landscape.
By doing so, you pave the way for personal growth, resilience, and a positive impact on the world around you. Looking for healthy contents to consume? Why not start here with Jamie Pajoel University!
