You’ve been brainwashed! I’ve been brainwashed! Seriously! We don’t have to be in a cult to experience mind control. It’s just part of being human. From our day of birth, we are all exposed to other’s beliefs and values. Depending on where we are born, and to who and during what period in time affects us. The only problem with this is if we don’t know it!
It took me many years to realize that part of becoming a mature adult is deciding what I’ve been taught that I believe and what I don’t believe. As I’ve come to understand I don’t have to believe all the things I’ve been taught, it’s been very liberating.
Sometimes it seems easiest to throw out everything we’ve been taught OR accept everything we’ve been taught. But again, maturity is weeding out what resonates or connects with each of us and what doesn’t.
As I work through this process, it involves knowing and strengthening my own mind. I’ve come to have more tolerance for myself in this process of sifting through my thoughts related to beliefs and values and deciding which to keep. After all, deprogramming can be difficult work.
I’m thankful for a few good teachers who have helped me practice healthy thinking. I’m thankful I was programmed or compelled to question and have a rebellious streak. I’m also thankful that I live in a time and culture where I have the freedom to find my own mind and not be faced with prison or death for thinking differently.
While hiking today, I saw a “Do not enter” sign. Often, these kinds of things catch my attention and I ponder what message there could be for me. In this case, the sign reminded me not to enter the path of rigid, negative and limited thought, but to continually aspire to open, positive and expansive thinking!
