Our actions and behaviors are merely a reflection of our souls.

The studies and experiments that have been conducted revealing the power of words spoken to plants or literal droplets of water blow me away!

Plants wither and droplets of water become dirty when negative words are spoken.

Conversely, plants thrive, and water droplets crystallize as the direct ramification of positive, encouraging sentiments.

Recognizing the power of narratives heightens the responsibility to take stock of the words we allow to penetrate our innermost parts but likewise the outpouring of our own.

For the words we speak are a reflection of the internal narratives and the impact thereof.

After all, words and actions are simply the overflows of the mind and heart and soul. The thoughts we permit to gestate, the mindsets we tend and water and cultivate, cannot help but reflect through our words and behaviors and actions.

As the saying goes, What we sow, we shall reap.

This begs the question: What are you and I sowing? Are we meditating on truth as informed by our values? Focusing on who you and I want to be and our vision for life?

James Allen’s writings surrounding the tending to thoughts in ‘As A Man Thinketh’ are some of the most eloquent I have read to date.

“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. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.

…A particular train of thought persisted in, be it good or bad, cannot fail to produce its results on the character and circumstances. A man cannot directly choose his circumstances, but he can choose his thoughts, and so indirectly, yet surely, shape his circumstances.

…A noble and God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, but is the natural result of continued effort in right thinking, the effect of long-cherished association with God-like thoughts.”

What we tend in the garden of our minds eventually makes its way into our hearts and souls and thus manifests in the overflow of our behaviors and speech.

Over the last few years, it has become essential for me to establish a Captor of every thought, narrative and feeling that presents itself. To test each thought, to weigh it, to examine it, to deem it fit for entry – or not.

Each and every input.

I have no control over the words and opinions and narratives and projections of others. But what I can control – what is my true responsibility – is my taking each one captive.

With this Captor acting as guard, you and I are empowered to, at the minimum:

✨ Choose with intention our internal narratives, no longer abdicating responsibility.
✨ Fixate on the truth about others, not simply our feelings towards them.
✨ Entertain new mindsets that stimulate growth and leave behind former thinking.

Without this Captor, I will maintain fear surrounding others. Fear that their words may turn into shame narratives within me, constantly questioning my worth or value so long as I am looking horizontally for fulfillment. Likewise, without this Captor in place, I will never allow new ideas or ideations or creativity or potential for new learnings to blossom.

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”
― Aristotle

The mere entertainment of a thought (or feeling) is not the acceptance of it.

Within the field of our minds, we must cultivate the ability to consider conflicting opinions or feelings in the pursuit of truth, allowing various perspectives to battle it out, and wars challenging our beliefs would occur. Wars only, which we permit, with the utmost of intention.

Only after taking every thought captive and thoroughly vetting it do we then allow it to move from the battlefield of our mind and then approach the Gatekeeper of our soul.

PS. It feels rather obvious to me that the above, as well as other posts, are personal reflections, not curated by some AI tool. ✨

PPS. I am quietly executing a Newsletter to expound upon these writings, such as regarding “The Gatekeeper of Our Soul.” If you would like to receive next week’s newsletter, sign up here.