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There are many things in life that clamour for our
attention. Many of these things are completely useless
and only eat up our valuable time. If we're not careful these
things will drag us down and lessen our quality of life.
We have to be very careful what we subject ourselves to
because everything has an influence. We must protect our
minds by being careful what we choose to let inside.
If we have hopes of having an extraordinary future there are
two critical things that we must monitor.
1. The Books We Read
In 5 years or less you will be the sum total of the books
you have read. In other words, you will be the sum total of
what you have put into your mind. If what you are allowing
into your mind on a regular basis is not in harmony with
where you want to be in the future you may want to make some
serious changes. Get yourself on a good reading program.
What we focus on becomes attracted into our lives. If we put
positive information into our minds we will attract positive
circumstances.
2. The People You Associate With
In 5 years or less you will be the sum total of the people
you have associated with.
There have been times in my past that I have had to break
off some close relationships because of the negativity
associated with these particular people. They did nothing
but drag me down.
Relationships like that will keep you from getting to where
you want to go. I'm not saying that you should stop loving
and caring for those type of people, but just love and care
for them from a distance. Simply quit hanging out with them.
You don't have to physically associate with negative people
to experience their negative effects. Many people associate
emotionally with other people via television.
I have a friend who is into a particular soap opera and he
says it doesn't affect him. I disagree. I know this soap
well because I was addicted to it myself! After watching it
every day for about six years, I was usually left in a
paralyzed state of mind. My friend is so accustomed to his
state of mind that I know he doesn't even realize it.
I have another friend who is reading romance novels. She
views her real world as lacking romance so she tries to
compensate for it by indulging in a fantasy.
I know a lot of people who are into watching scary movies.
These shows leave a person with a sense of fear. The Bible
says over and over again, "Fear not!"
We absolutely have to choose our associations wisely!
Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man
sharpens the other." How sharp do you want to be?
Conclusion
Where will you be in in the future? Three, four, or even
five years down the road? It is a fact that in five years or
less you will be the sum total of the books you have read
and the people you have associated with.
Are you reading good books and associating with the right
kind of people? Or, do you need to get some good books and
change a few relationships? The Bible says, "Keep your heart
with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life"
(Proverbs 4:23).