Amorvia Extrasolar

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23

 Everyday, first thing in the morning, before you put your feet on the ground, even prior to your first cup of coffee, just as your eyes open and the flood of thoughts comes rolling in like a tidal wave… you have to guard your mind.

 These days they call it “mind set” but what it means is that you have to be “vigilant” (like the Bible says) with your thought process.

 I use to think it was a moral issue, like there was something terribly wrong with me because my thinking would slip into this awful way of being. Often I just gave in and suffered the onslaught of what I thought was uncontrollable negativity. BUT I WAS WRONG!

 It wasn’t a moral issue at all. It was all brain chemistry, and learned ways of being. Ok… there is a smattering of genetics in there too… but even then I have more control over my mindset that I ever realized. It takes…vigilance…discipline…self-control.

 I have to guard my mind every single day, especially in the morning, often through the day, sometimes late in the night lying awake in my bed I have to tell my self the truth, fight the gloom, ward off the darkness, create my own reality and not give in to brain chemistry, learned limitations, inherited genes.

 I always begin with love. The fact that I am loved is nice and I remind myself of that. But more importantly my people, my tribe, my family, my neighbor, my co-worker, my strangers, the people in Haiti, they need MY LOVE. I tell my heart, I guard my mind by telling myself, over and over again, “They need my love! Even though I feel empty, I still have love to give.” This is the truth.

 I always use action. I get up and I move forward. Often I use a list to remind myself of my priorities and my schedule. I try never to deviate from my schedule no matter how I feel. When I deviate I always go back to the schedule and work it.

 I always have accountability partners. I need help. Can’t do this by myself. God gave them to me to help me. So I surround myself with people who make me move forward. They challenge me to meet my goals, make more money, and keep on track. I love them for keeping me accountable to guard my mind set.

 I exercise daily. I know that being sedentary contributes to the malaise. I know that I can improve my well-being just by faithfully taking care of my body. I walk, I run, I lift, I stretch and, man, what a difference it make. Research backs this up.

 Over the years I have developed dozen, maybe even hundreds of way to be vigilant, to guard my heart, to get the right mindset. I will tell you this… sometimes it is a lot of hard work! Damn hard!

 I have decided that I am not going to let my brain chemistry, my learned helpless, and my gene pool rule my life! HELL NO! LOVE is going to rule me! So I am going to heed the Word of God and I am going to GUARD MY HEART! Every day beginning now, I will love my life fully! Life is beautiful! God is good.

 I love you – Bryan

 Here is your new spiritual exercise: Repeat that last paragraph every morning. Copy it and paste it in a prominent place where you will see it often and SAY IT OUT LOUD, so that body and mind will hear it.