A Healthy Emotional Diet For The Mind (Part 1)

Let us choose a healthy emotional diet by incorporating 5 simple steps in our lifestyle –

1. Avoid reading newspaper, watching news channels or even TV shows that are very emotionally stimulating, as the first thing in the morning. Instead, let us spend at least 15 minutes to read or listen to pure and empowering messages. To beat time constraints, we may even combine it with our morning routine of walk, exercise, while cooking or travelling to work. This way we begin our day with a healthy breakfast for the mind.
2. Choose one positive point from what you read in the morning and create an affirmation. Customize the thoughts to suit our personal, current life situations. Let us remember that affirmations should aim at what we already have or what we want in reality. After every hour, pause for a minute and repeat the affirmations along with visualizing the thoughts.
3. Let us delete negative messages on WhatsApp even without reading, ignore such messages on Facebook or any other social media. Let us not read critical opinions about anyone, a joke showing someone in poor light, a message that shows bias for a person, religion, place, political views and so on. Once we read the message, we have consumed it. It influences our thoughts not only about that particular issue, but even otherwise we tend to create thoughts of criticism, anger and pain. We are what we read, watch and listen.
4. Avoid watching news, daily TV shows or reading the newspaper at bedtime. Instead, set aside 10 minutes before going to sleep to absorb positive information. This ends our day well and calms the mind so that we enjoy good sleep. It also ensures our last thoughts for the day are not scattered around any negativity.
5. Let us always carry a positive book or messages and talks on our phone. Any moment we feel disturbed or low, immediately read or listen. Even a 5-minute intake of elevated and positive information in the day stops the series of negative thoughts in our mind. The message may give us a solution to our problem. The instant healthy diet strengthens the soul and gives us the power to create a positive response. This is our emotional first aid kit.

(To be continued tomorrow …)