Garbage In Garbage Out …

WARNING: Be Careful What You Believe Pt 2 …
In a recent article I spoke about being aware of the source of information you ingest at any given time and the importance of “testing” that information.
In this discussion I’d like to go one step further and look at what you tell yourself.
Belief is a funny thing.
It can be shaped externally by people, experiences and circumstances around us.
But our own personal belief is largely a product of what we tell ourselves.
Disseminating what other people tell you and how you register that information in your mind is an important aspect of personal growth.
Let’s say a friend of yours says:
“Hey, you know I tried that before … it doesn’t work. It’s a scam!”
At that very moment you have a split second decision to make:
Accept it as factual commentary OR ask why? And seek to discover the truth for yourself.
The next level of belief, which I am looking at here is what you do from there.
You go on about your way and let’s say that later on down the road someone brings up the topic in another conversation.
This time you’re apprehensive and skeptical. Maybe even defensive.
Why?
Is it because your friend told you so?
Or because of your own personal experience?
Do you have a basis for your new found belief other than hearsay?
What about someone who tells you, you can’t do something?
Again, you have a choice to make.
Hang your head and accept their criticism as a fact of your reality OR defer to your inner self and choose to brush off their comments and shape your own reality.
This is a big one.
This is the kind of inner struggle a lot of us deal with on a daily basis … maybe even an ongoing basis throughout the day, day after day.
It is a brutal cycle that on the surface appears to be without hope or a solution in sight.
This is where YOUR BELIEF is tantamount to your success in life.
What do you choose to tell yourself and what do you choose to accept as REALITY, TRUTH, FACT and what IS POSSIBLE?
This inner conversation is fueled by whatever you allow to influence you.
There’s an old saying that goes like this …
“Garbage In Garbage Out.”
The simple quote commonly referenced in the computer world.
Often abbreviated as GIGO, this is a famous computer axiom meaning that if invalid data is entered into a system, the resulting output will also be invalid. Although originally applied to computer software, the axiom holds true for all systems, including, for example, decision-making systems.
Yet as simple a principle it may be, so many people fail to exercise it in their daily lives. What are you inputting into your operating system?
TV, newspapers, radio, magazines, talk shows, friends, family, colleagues … haters. The list goes on and on with all the things that have the potential to influence us throughout the day.
Take a look at that picture again …

Now ask yourself what your inner “living room” looks like.
Is it full of garbage and putrid, creativity killing thoughts?
Or is it a beautiful space of serenity, peace and happiness?
Now look at your life.
Do you think maybe there is a correlation in how your state of mind and the state of your heart look inside compared to the experiences and results, or lack thereof, you are seeing on the outside?
As the new year approaches everyone will be gearing up for their new year resolutions.
Look at your life … look closely at where you are.
Is it where you want to be? Is this what you expected?
Is it everything you hoped it would be?
If not, then I would encourage you TODAY to do some serious house cleaning … in your heart, in your mind, in your soul and look closely at what you have been telling yourself. Look closely at what data you have been consuming.
Take inventory and commit to subscribing to a new channel, new news, new influences and maybe even new friends.
Change the channel and begin seeking encouragement, support and people and influences that will help build you up to become the person you truly want to be. The person you want to believe you are.
For me, as the new year approaches I will commit to sharing the experiences, people and influences I find personally encouraging and uplifting here in my digital journal.
Stay tuned for more. Until next time … Cheers!
Live Long and Prosper.
~ Richard
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You can find me on Twitter @RichardBravo
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Have you ever read anything about NLP?
It is very similar to the decisions you make about what you think about. You place yourself in your situation (first position), then think of the other person and BE them and what they think and feel (second position) then step aside and look at it from an outside view (third position).
You must go through ALL three to understand the best perspective.
I think this helps in deciding IF the crappy feelings you are dealing with ARE really valid and applies to GIGO.
Thanks you for taking the time to write this article and the ikea decor!
Richard:
This is good solid advice. Far too many people carry everyone else’s garbage as well as their own and they become immobile because they simply cannot carry that kind of weight around with them.
It’s now 2010, a new year, a new beginning, a new opportunity to cart all that garbage to the dump where it belongs and to walk away free to be who you were meant to be. Free to succeed. Free to hope. Free to dream. Free to accomplish destiny.
The photos are a very good visual of what it looks like inside some of our lives. Let’s resolve as we begin this new year to start fresh with none of the baggage from 2009. Let’s walk tall and boldly into 2010, walk with purpose, with faith that we can do it – whatever the “it” is for each one of us.
Thanks for sharing your valuable insights.
Diane … hey it’s great to see you again.
How is your year going so far.
Thank you for reading my blog.
It’s always nice to see a familiar face!
Garbage In Garbage Out.. First heard that about 20 years ago an good to see brought up again. unfortunately there is alot more garbage out there to soak up then to good positive mind food.
Excellent job Richard
I couldn’t agree more Richard:
Belief is powerful.
Those that “think” they can’t… CAN’T!
Those that “think” they can… CAN!
There is always going to be someone running around voicing their opinion and portraying themselves as knowledgeable and experienced individuals when in fact they have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. “Gossips & Rumor Spreaders”
I used to work in the oil and gas industry where we had a philosophy… If you haven’t heard a rumor by 10:00am it’s time to start one.
Until you have first hand experience everything is just gossip and rumor…
Hey Richard,
I’ve got a question for you. Don’t you love when someone starts out that way…Anyway I’ve just started my blog on Saturday (address attached). I have begun to place a little content and so far I am pleased with the progress. Had to use the free Wordpress (low on funds) and hope to upgrade soon.
The question I have is how do I go about adding content from others, such as your blog. Specifically this post, Garbage in Garbage out. Do I copy the link in a post of mine or do I just copy and past your post and list you as the author. It seems like more sense to copy the link but you are the first person I’ve asked and I’m new to this…Please email me a reply…
I guess I should say that I don’t even know if this is something that is done in the industry…