I have been thinking more and more about the effects of our surroundings. I go though ebbs and flows on this path like anyone else. Sometimes spiritual pursuit is in the forefront of my mind but sometimes life gets busy and it is easier to just slack off. By the time I have this realization I am consuming without thought and certainly without mindfulness. I get into what I call autopilot, just going through life and not experiencing so much. I do not control as much of what I am consuming, with my eyes, my mouth, my ears and my mind. In the beginning little effect is seen I listen to a little negative music no worries. Watch a little too much news and some bad TV not too bad. Eat some bad food that is not good for me what can it hurt. A little gossip just for fun cause after all I am just talking. Then wham straight to the face with negative thinking and I am in a rut. Everything around us has the potential to effect us physically, spiritually and mentally. While a little of this would not hurt us if we are keeping a spiritual mindset the cumulative effects add up but it does seem to hit suddenly or maybe the realization just comes on that way. I try to stay mindful of what I am in taking in these days try to set aside some time each day to meditate and pray. Maybe listen to some uplifting music and read some scripture. The effects of these small actions can have a great and sudden impact on myself and those around me cause I am better equipped to be in the world when in a spiritual mindset. If a fraction of the world spent a little more time on the positive and a little less time on the news, reality TV, the latest want, junk food and gossip to name a few the world might be a much brighter place to live in. While I think with how busy we are now with all our distractions we spend less and less time on spirituality and more and more time on mindless endeavors. A good test for me is when I drive to work in the morning if I am disturbed about the traffic I am not doing what I should but when I am checking out the trees and the clouds I’m on the right path. With so much advancement in the world these days I think everybody could use a little more time to advance their hearts.
What did you consume today?
Peace Love Das
Peace Love Das 
This is such a beautiful reminder. Being mindful takes practice, requires daily practice, and is something I have to be aware of. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, a lot of the time I write these things to remind myself.
This is so very true. A little while ago I promised to myself I was going to keep negativity away. I don’t care to watch the news anymore because its always depressing. I thought how nice it would be to have 1 channel with nothing but positive feel good tv. The sad part is the ratings would probably be terrible. I feel that us Americans tend to focus on the bad. The worse it is the better. It’s no wonder so many people are killing each other, I don’t know when but at some point everyone has been letting in bad. I think if more people realized that life is short and it’s not worth the confrontation maybe more people wouldn’t sweat the small stuff.
Thanks and it is all small stuff
I have noticed that the more I focus on goodness, beauty and kindness the more I receive back. Never a day goes by without someone doing something nice for me – holding open a door, letting me out in a traffic queue, giving me a seat on the bus or train and I then pass this on to other people by helping them. Sometimes all it takes is a smile to make someone’s day 🙂