The Tribune

By MICHELL MILLER

COMPUTER gadgets and digital components change at lightning speed, but even with their endless upgrades, one basic truth remains – a computer can only do what it is ‘fed’ or programmed to do. While computers are not my area of expertise, let’s look at this theory a little more closely.

We agree that computer generated information is the way of life in the 21st century; everything is computer driven. However, in order for the computer to generate anything you must install or feed it the essential data/programming that will permit it to produce what you desire.

Believe it or not, your mind works in this same manner.

At the end of the day, whatever you feed your mind is produced in your life experience. More than this, all that you are exposed to on a daily basis serves as food for your mind, whether you are conscious or not.

From this vantage point – the bigger question is not so much what you are feeding your mind but more – what are you producing in your life experience? Whatever you see showing up in your life, is the by-product of what you are feeding and or have been feeding your mind.

One great writer said, “You are what you feed your mind.” As they say: garbage in – garbage out. When you think about this from a physiological perspective, most people are more concerned about what they feed their bodies rather than their minds.

I find this interesting the mass of folk who buy into the notion of eating healthy but never consider the healthy state of their minds. For example, most people eat three times or more per day. Some go through painstaking efforts to feed their bodies only natural or organic substances. However, how many do you think take this same deliberate consideration when it comes to their minds? I suspect very few.

What I know for sure is life is very simple – you get out only what you put. Just as unhealthy diets, poor eating habits, results in an unhealthy and sickly body, lack of nutritious food for your mind, results in an ineffective mental disposition.

Truth of the matter is a sluggish mindset is the result of a poor mental diet. Indeed, many are mentally conditioned to pay more attention to their bodies, leaving out the continuous development of their mind. Please note that mind development in this context goes beyond regular ole academics education.

The challenge here is not being conditioned, but remaining in such a conditioned state of mind. Ironically, while we surely must take care for our bodies, nothing will be effectively sustained without a healthy mind.

As such, your body improvement efforts are best served by first investing time and energy towards improving your mindset. Make no mistake about it – a well- developed, responsive mindset trumps a well-toned, so-called healthy body any day.

Leader to leader, remember your mind is unlimited and has endless capacity to produce. Make the effort to feed it positive, insightful and nourishing meals on a consistent basis.

Through the developing and renewing of your mind, you build the confidence to really live the life that you love.

• What do you think? Call 429-6770 or e-mail coaching242@yahoo.com. For more mind development and strategies, visit michellemmiller.com.

Michelle M Miller is an author, certified life-coach and leadership expert.