Cleaning the Mental House: Identifying and Discarding Negative Influences

 Imagine if someone were to leave or discard trash in your home; you'd naturally take immediate action to clean it up, wouldn't you? Strangely, this same instinct doesn't always kick in when someone litters your mind with words, expressions, or actions. Why? It's because we often don't initially recognize it as "trash"; instead, we perceive it as mere information. The question is, how can we discern what's harmful?


I abide by a simple rulebook: when you receive new information, take a moment to ask a few crucial questions. Is it promoting a negative view of someone without any factual basis? Is it meant to belittle or demean? Is its purpose to raise awareness or merely assign blame? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then consider it mental "trash." This practice applies to the thoughts that naturally emerge in your mind as well. If none of these questions can be answered with a "yes," then it's likely best left unsaid. Just as you would tidy up your physical space, take a moment to clean your mental house and let go of the unnecessary mental clutter.

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