I had a friend ask me recently, How can I trust anyone? I just want something sacred to me that’s entirely my own.

In the midst of silence we started the conversation this way. With this question. I had to take a moment to think about my response to this. Once I did, we spent several hours in discussion of this. This is what I have to share with you.

Everybody’s been hurt at one point or another in some form or fashion to varying levels of severity. The only thing that came to my thoughts was mental space. So I tell him this, I tell him the most sacred thing in the entire world is your mental space. I tell him he should guard it, protect it and anything that affects it in a negative way he should push it away; no, burn it with a vengeance! Burn those bridges, destroy those pages and leave that garbage in the dust behind you. Stop breathing it in. It’s not worth it to remain in the gunk.

Everything around us impacts us whether we see it or recognize it at the time. Your mailman leaving mail in your mailbox. Your dog begging for the scraps that hit the floor. That lady walking across the street you happened to glance at. Your pen that broke and spilled ink all across your desk. Everything. The mere presence of something in your peripheral impacts you. Even if it’s on the fringes of your little world. If you don’t like it, change it. Obviously this can be much easier said than done. Regardless, change it. Remove it. Get rid of it. There is no excuse that out weighs the value of your mental space. Do what’s necessary for your mental state. Take care of it. Invest in it.

The stereotypical business man who talks to himself in the mirror everyday and gives himself a pep talk for the day, he gets it. He has to. If he didn’t start his day on a positive note and positioned his thoughts in such a way to handle all the other thoughts and opinions walking around spouting off their own perspective and beliefs he would fail and stumble before he even made his initial sales pitch.

Practice mental control everyday, it’s important. Don’t give time to things that don’t coincide with your beliefs and values. Don’t give value to people or things that degrade you in any capacity. You can’t afford to.

Our time on this little dust ball we call earth is so miniscule it’s not even funny. Cherish your time. Protect your time. Your mind is more powerful than you likely realize. People carry different demons with them and that’s okay, that’s their journey. You can see their demons lingering behind them, clouding around them. If you aren’t there to help them then help yourself and remove yourself from their path. Your journey is your own and no one controls that except you. You have a choice. Always. Choose to focus on positives in times of sorrow even if you don’t feel like it. Choose to spend your time with your loved ones. Choose to let things go. Fake it and pretend to be positive until you believe it to be true. Your mind believes what you tell it. You don’t need to battle the world. Life is hard enough walking our own path. Cut people loose that need cut. Get rid of the junk weighing you down. Be proud when you do so. It’s a big deal and you’ll thank yourself for it.

Learn to lean on others when you need help. Your mind is complicated and a trustworthy outside perspective can provide clarity in times of doubt. You have people who care about you and your well-being whether you know it to be true or not. Believe your mind to be valuable and invest in it, guard it. Tell yourself it is so, make it so.

Then again, what do I know. I’m only a 25 year old still learning about life.

If you’re reading this, I love you brother. You can trust me. I’ve got your back.

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